July 08, 2019: SOAP #3504:  Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 100:1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 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.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Observation:   In this psalm, we are given some special keys for life.  We are told how to enter the presence of God.  What can be more important than that!

We are to come before him with joyful songs.  We enter his gates with thanksgiving.  We enter his courts with praise.

Application:   Since God is omnipresent, I am always in His presence.  However, I am not always aware of His presence.  When I sing a joyful song of thanksgiving and praise, I become aware of His presence!  Joyful songs of thanksgiving and praise might not change my circumstances, but they will change the focus of my heart and the focus of my thoughts.

Knowing that I can enter the gates of the King of heaven, that I can enter the courts of Creator God, why would I want to stand outside with my mind locked into the hopelessness of the world around me?  Why would I hesitate to use these special keys to enter an awareness of the loving God who gave His Son to die for me?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, remind me of what is available to me and how to use these keys.  May my joyful songs of thanksgiving and praise bring joy to the courts of heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!