A Week of Worship and ThanksgivingSample

Our Good Shepherd...

Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. - Psalm 100:2-3

As we offer our thanksgiving and worship to our magnificent Creator, we must remember two more things.

• One, we are His lambs.
• Two, He is our Shepherd.

Pretty simple. Nevertheless, the waters can be oh so muddied sometimes.

There is a movement in our midst to declare we are capable, deserving, worthy, and can do it–whatever it is. Still, our human abilities are only just that–human (2 Cor. 4:7). Anything eternal, anything of worth, or anything of goodness emanating from our lives will only be derived when we hide in Christ (Col. 3:3). John the Baptist spoke the truth: more of Him and less of me (John 3:30).

Yes. I must remember that I am His lamb–His most beloved lamb, even in my faults and failings, sin and stuff. He alone brings worth to my life. Isn’t this the truth? When I live as His lamb, relying implicitly upon Him as my Shepherd, Healer, Provider, Defender, and Father, sweet thanksgiving spontaneously arises from my life. And not the other way around.

So, I ask. As we head into worship and thanksgiving today, what aspect of our lives are we trying to accomplish in our strength? Wearying, isn’t it? As we exalt Him throughout our daily tasks, let’s also lift this heavy load to Him of trying to perform and produce to prove our worth. Because truly, He alone is worthy, and we, ever and only, will find our worth in Him.

What areas in your life do you need to surrender to Lord Jesus in worship today? Take time to give these things to Him and see what He does.