“Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

Psalm 100

I’ve worked with adopted kids at Kanakuk Kamps for 50 summers, and I’ve found a most-curious thing about adopted children: Some are exceedingly grateful, some are oblivious, and some are naturally angry toward the parents who have risked the wellbeing of their own families’ lives to pull them out of the more-often-than-not dire circumstances from which they were rescued.

As curious as that may be, it’s exactly the way it is with those around the world whom God has adopted through the provision of His Son’s death.

Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Sadly, those who are either oblivious or angry far outnumber those who are exceedingly grateful.

An earthly adoption often saves a child from a life of neglect or starvation. Heavenly adoption saves a child of God from eternal damnation.

On a 1 to 10 scale, how do you rank yourself in the measurement of appreciation for your adoption? One is angry, three is oblivious, five is thankful, and 10 is exuberant 24/7/365.

If you find yourself anywhere under 10, you would benefit greatly from memorizing and meditating daily on this magnificent Psalm 100.

• Romans 8:14-17 – “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
  • “Adopted.” “Children of God.” “Heirs to the kingdom.” How did you rank your heart on the 1 to 10 scale above? How would those around you the most rank your response to God’s adoption, measured by the daily joy and appreciation in your life?

• Psalm 100:1-2 – “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.”
  • What should be the daily attitude of one who truly understands the value of his or her adoption?

• Psalm 100:4 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”
  • In a day when “chill” and “kick back” are standards for daily American life, what is this verse saying to you personally?

• Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”
  • “Goodness,” “everlasting lovingkindness,” “faithfulness” –three of God’s most-noteworthy attributes! They could be paraphrased this way: “God is always good to His adopted; God is always faithful to His adopted; God is always giving unconditional love to His adopted.” How does that truth help set your daily level of joy and appreciation?

• John 14:13 – “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
  • The brilliant 5th-century Algerian writer Augustine once said, “God looks to our profit, not our desire.” In other words, He seeks what’s best for us, not what we in our limited understanding might want in the moment. In that light, how should you respond when your prayers seem to go unanswered, or even when your prayers are answered contrary to your intention?

• Proverbs 3:12 –  “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”
  John 15:2 – “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”
  • Describe a time when God “pruned” or “corrected” you. How did you handle it? What did you think and feel?

• Colossians 1:24 – “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”
  Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
  • What attitude and response adjustments do you need to make during your days of difficulty and discipline?

John 13:15 – ​“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

From today’s scripture, how does ​THE​ Shepherd inspire ​you​ to shepherd ​your​ flock?

“Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

A​doration, ​C​onfession, ​T​hanksgiving, ​S​upplication