Open the Gates

We live in a community with a security gate. It became necessary to switch out the card reader panel and issue new gate cards. Yesterday was the day to implement that.

So, this morning as I was reading different verses on praise, the “gates” mentioned caught my attention.

“ Earth, sing to the Lord! ² Be happy as you serve the Lord! Come before him with happy songs! ³ Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep he takes care of. ⁴ Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him. Enter his courtyards with songs of praise. Honor him and bless his name. ⁵ The Lord is good! There is no end to his faithful love. We can trust him forever and ever!” Psalm 100 ERV

Our gate card to God’s presence is prayer and praise.

“I was in trouble, so I called to the Lord for help. The Lord answered and made me free.
⁶ The Lord is with me, so I will not be afraid. No one on earth can do anything to harm me.
⁷ The Lord is my helper. I will see my enemies defeated. ⁸ It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people. ⁹ It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in great leaders...I will live and not die, and I will tell what the Lord has done. ¹⁸ The Lord punished me, but he did not let me die.¹⁹ Gates of goodness, open for me, and I will come in and worship the Lord.
²⁰ Those are the Lord’s gates, and only good people can go through them. ²¹ Lord, I thank you for answering my prayer. I thank you for saving me.” Psalm 118 ERV

The old cards won’t open the gate. Neither will our old ways of self-sufficiency. We don’t enter God’s presence on our own merits or good works. We gain access through Jesus.

“ Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. ¹⁶ With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16 ERV

Not only does our relationship with Jesus open heaven’s gate but it brings us right to the throne room where we receive grace, mercy and kindness in our times of trouble. We gain full access because the gates open for the King.

“Gates, proudly lift your heads! Open, ancient doors, and the glorious King will come in.
⁸ Who is the glorious King? He is the Lord, the powerful soldier. He is the Lord, the war hero. ⁹ Gates, proudly lift your heads! Open, ancient doors, and the glorious King will come in. ¹⁰ Who is the glorious King? The Lord All-Powerful is the glorious King. ” Psalm 24:7-10 ERV

The King, our shepherd and savior, says open the gates. When He enters. He authorizes our admission. We enter His courts with praise!