DAY 8
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name: Psalms 100:4
“Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.” Psalms 96:8
In biblical times a court or courtyard was a walled (open-air) place where the King would hold court - preside or rule over public matters. This is where just ordinary/common people could bring their problems and grievances to the King for him to solve.
So when the Bible talks about bringing an offering into His courts or entering His courts with praise, it’s talking about bringing our prayers and petitions and bringing a sacrifice of praise that He is worthy of.
This is why David says in Psalms “better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere”. We are just ordinary/common people, but when we bring our petition, the God of heaven, the Master and creator of the universe HEARS US. And He not only hears; He ANSWERS.
Every time we bring a sacrifice of praise, let it be genuine and not half hearted.
In Matthew chapter 25, we learn a parable about the ten virgins. Five of them had oil in their lamps and five came empty. These ladies all looked the same on the outside. They had some of the same attributes. They had all kept themselves virtuous, yet some were empty.
You can go to the same church. You can look the same, sound the same, hear the same sermons, pray at the same altar, have some of the same attributes, but be completely empty.
Come into His courts with praise today. Bring your petitions and receive from His Word. Don’t leave His presence empty, but be refreshed and renewed.
Questions:
- Am I making my prayer and devotion time a priority?
- What petitions do I need to bring Him? What have I been holding back?
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