Belonging to God
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You know me for what I am and what I might become. Grant me what I need the most that I might better do Your will.
Read PSALM 100
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Belief in God’s goodness and mercy and enduring truth has always been the secret of joy.
How refreshing to be able to praise without reservation. There is no need for qualification or cynicism. This is not overblown hyperbole that makes you cringe. While the praise is directed to God it is also ministering to the worshippers as they give their love, loyalty and worship to the Lord.
This psalm is a call to worship, an invitation to join in. A French proverb says: “Your appetite comes when you start to eat.” It is the same in worship. When you start to praise God you find you want to worship. Worship needs to be expressed, not bottled up. All relationships grow from affirmation and that is equally true of our relationship with God. The focus for our praise is that we matter to God and that gives us dignity and worth. He made us and has an ongoing interest. As a shepherd knows his sheep and looks out for them, so we can trust God to watch out for his people.
In this light, we should ensure that we come together to express our praise. The importance of thankfulness cannot be overstressed. The psalmist concludes by listing reasons for our praise, namely the character of God. The three marks he highlights are goodness, love and faithfulness. Together they make a powerful combination.
Sometimes we need to lift our eyes from our situation and take time to remember that whatever we face we do not do so alone. God has pledged himself to us in his Word and sealed that promise in the gift of his Son and his Spirit. His presence with us, his care for us, should never be taken for granted. Our worship together should inspire us to live for him when we go back into our homes, communities and workplaces.
Apply
What six reasons does the psalmist give to praise God? Which reason most motivates you to praise God?
Closing prayer
Lord, You are so many things: ever-present, eternal, just and righteous, full of glory. You are all of these things, yet my praise continually falls short. Accept my praise through the merits of Jesus.
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