Discover His heart: “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”
@ Psalm 100
The first scripture that I remember singing, at least knowing that it was scripture, was Psalm 100. We were youth pastors at the time, and the youth sang it, a lot, and that was good. I recall thinking during those many times of worship that if they could get the message of this Psalm deep into their hearts and minds, it would change their lives forever. Seeing their faces now as I think back…Barb, Kim, Jon and many others, I know their lives were changed, with some in ministry today. I love to sing His Word.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (1-3 KJV) Regardless of what the evolutionist and new agers say, we didn’t evolve or create ourselves. With their propaganda almost everywhere we turn, it’s good to sing a little Psalm 100 once in a while. He made us, not we ourselves.
In fact, it would be a good idea for us to read Psalm 139 at least once every week. “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body…you saw me before I was born…every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (13-16) Mom and dad had a lot to do with our existence, but it was God who gave us breath and spirit.
He places within us wonderful gifts and talents; and as time goes on, we discover them and tend to take ownership as if we created them in us. We use them as we want, but what He desires is that we surrender our gifts to Him to be used for His glory and purposes, not ours because that is why they were given to us. He made us, not we ourselves.
When a challenge comes along, we try to fix it or change it all on our own. I would never take a broken watch to the shoe repair shop to be fixed. No, I would take it to the watchmaker who understands the inner works and would know exactly how to fix it. But for some reason I want to fix all my hurts and challenges myself instead of taking them to my maker who understands my inner workings and knows exactly how to fix me. He made us, not we ourselves.
“We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (3) Not only did He make us, but He also has provided a place for us. Not one of His sheep is homeless! We may face a period of time without a tangible home, but He provides a place to hang out during our waiting where we find comfort and rest in HIS presence–-HIS pasture, Home, Sweet Home!
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (5) No wonder we are encouraged in this Psalm to shout to the Lord, worship with gladness, give thanks to Him and praise His name. He created us in intimacy, He always provides a place for us and He is goodness, mercy and truth…forever! As I said, it’s good to sing a little Psalm 100 once in a while – we have a lot to sing about!
Moving Forward: I surrender today to the One who made me, the One who knows exactly how to use me and also how to fix me. Singing, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…”
Tomorrow @ Proverbs 19
Phyllis Benigas 