Thursday, September 29 | We are his: dedication
Read Psalm 95
“We are the people.” As we talk this week about our first strategy for accomplishing our mission, we’re talking about worship. We said that in worship we align ourselves as individuals and as a community around the reality of God and His mission.
Worship also aligns us around the reality of our position. Psalm 95 is clear that God is the Creator, we are the creation. God is the Shepherd, we are the sheep. He is God, and we are His people. We belong to Him. We were made by Him, for a purpose.
Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
This verse affirms, with Psalm 95, that we are not our own! We do not belong to ourselves! To affirm that we are God’s people is to affirm that we cannot live our “best lives” outside the purpose for which we were created! And the Genesis story tells us that God created us to know Him and to partner with him for the flourishing of all creation.
This is important for the church community to align with! It is vital that we acknowledge together that we are not free to define our own purpose! We have been given a purpose by God and it is to work with God to restore shalom. Shalom happens when God is known by all and when all creation flourishes. God’s people work towards God’s mission!
Today, spend some time confessing your position as belonging to God. Maybe try taking a posture that demonstrates submission to God, such as kneeling during prayer or putting out your open hands. What does it feel like to submit yourself to God’s purposes? Pray for the Harbor community that we will together affirm our submission to God’s purposes as His people.