Possessed by God

Who owns you? Who's got the trademark on you? Keep Reading...

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
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.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

As humans we are tempted to think that we start things, own things, and control things. We tend to think that life begins and ends with us. "I am my own person," we say. But the Bible says something different.

"It is HE who made us, and we are HIS. We are HIS people, and the sheep of HIS pasture."

It is one thing to read this Scripture. It is another thing to lived out being possessed or owned by God. If he created us and owns us, then he has a right to our lives. He has a right to direct our coming and going. He has the right to provide and care for us. 

And who are we? What is our role? We are sheep. We were created to be led by him… to be guided into green pastures, to be protected from enemies. Sheep are not particularly smart, but they can be led.

Now that is a reason for celebrating. Those who have embraced their status as sheep can truly enter into God's presence with thanksgiving and praise. It is our fallen tendency to act like a god that weighs us down, that mutes the praise, and darkens our vision.

God owns you. But will you acknowledge that today? He wants you to respond as a sheep. He longs for your humility, as you say, "Lead me, guide me, and protect me. I will follow you, for you are my owner and my King." He desires your praise, as you declare, "You are my God, and you are good. Your love and your faithfulness endure forever."