February 26 of this year, I had the honor and privilege to speak at a Historical Black College, by the invitation of Tanisha Manning , Titus Manning, and cousins. All of these young people attend Philander Smith College, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Just a little history of the school: It was started on November 7, 1877 as Walden Seminary. Adeline Smith, of Oak Park, Illinois, had great interest in the work of the Church in the South, and was willing to donated $10,500 to Walden Seminary. Because of this great blessing to the Seminary they desired to rename it after her deceased husband, Philander Smith-College. On March 3, 1881, the state chartered it as a four-year college.
There theme for their Annual Religious Emphasis Week of 2014 was “What shall I render to God, and Family and Community? Psalm 116:12-14 reads, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” May I say that the Lord blessed in the meeting that night with these young adults striving to better themselves in rendering to God and man.
We are now in the third month of the New Year. We are fast approaching Passover and Resurrection Sunday, as others may say Easter. The question still holds fast with me, “What shall I render?” If we would only take the time to meditate on the greatness of our God, and see what He renders unto us. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The Psalmist of Psalm 116 gives God thanks for delivering him from death. How great and awesome is our Lord Jesus Christ who has redeemed us from eternal death. He willingly laid down His life that we may have life and that more abundantly. This is a great time to render ourselves to reach the lost, bringing soul to Jesus Christ.
The question remains, “What shall l render back to God, family and community. The word “render” means to go back, to return, bring back, reestablish and to restore. Jesus Christ rendered His life as the perfect sacrifice, so we can be reconciled back to the Father. The Psalmist gave much praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord, and that he would pay his vow in the presence of others. Most likely he had made vows privately unto God when he was on his sick bed. Many times the vows we make are in our distress, or troublesome time. When the Lord delivered him, and raised him up from his bed of affliction, he wanted to make known his vows to the public. It was a custom in doing this to let the people know how great and awesome their God is. A few verses down it states, “How precious is the saint that dies in the Lord”, meaning when the Lord takes you home with Him there a purpose and meaning.
Our heart’s desire should be, everyday of the year, to rise and give God praise and true worship. The question again is “What I can render unto the Lord, my family and community?” First, I could say no matter what has transpired in my life, good or bad, I forever want to keep a praise of thanksgiving upon my lips. There is nothing more distasteful than when things go wrong in my life and I began to mummer and complain how bad and dreadful things are. When people see us they need to see more of Christ, and the Word of God being manifested in our lives. What else? Integrity and honesty, faithfulness, forgiveness, the true love of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and list can go on and on.
I would like to say this before I continue. We have so many times made vows to the Lord and honestly forgot that we made them, or vows just did not have the want to or strength to. I say to all of us to repent and ask God to forgive us of our sin. In the book Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 it express the sincerity of vows made to God. “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” We do not need to bargain with God when we are in distress or in a low time. God is so faithful to deliver and help us in the time of need.
Moving back into my thought, there is so much that I can give back to God, family and community as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and help us to do God’s will. The Holy Spirit will aid and empower us to be that vessel to give back to our family and community. Remember, it’s not always those we grew up with or lived around, it is those whom the Lord directs or place in our path way. God has given us all the tools we need. My prayer is that God grant us the holy boldness to do that what we vowed. Let’s rise and act on the vows we have made, so not to be found to be a lire.
Bishop Brenda K. Perry,
Senior Pastor of New Life
