Psalm 100:1–5 (RSV) —
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
NOTE: Verse 3b states, “it is he that made us, and we are his … .” We were not born to God; we are not His children. We are made; we are His creation. When you create something, it is the person who crafted the object who owns it and decides its fate. The creation does not have a say. We have no argument with God if we dislike what He has allowed to happen in our lives.
Now, there is another special clarification. For those who place their faith in Jesus, they experience a second birth. The first birth is physical, from our parents, while the second birth is spiritual, to God. For those who are born again, God adopts us into His family and allows us to call Him “Abba” or “Daddy.” In this case, we are God’s children, but only in this unique circumstance.
Lastly, all humans are made in the image of God. This sets us apart from the rest of God’s creation. We are still owned by God, but being in His image does not automatically make us His children; only rebirth through faith in Jesus can bring us into God’s family.
PONDER:
- Are you a member of God’s family, or are you merely part of creation?
- Have you experienced rebirth?
PRAYER: Father, I thank You for my rebirth and the transformation You brought about in my life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when I believed. I am a new creation now, and the difference is remarkable. Help me live out this transformed life for others to see as I serve in the homeless shelter today.
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