Scripture

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

~Hebrews 10:19-20, NLT

Quote

What right do we have to speak to God? There is only one answer–Jesus!

~Martyn Lloyd Jones

David said in Psalm 84, I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. It was not easy to get into the Temple. No one could simply walk in. The Levites had a security team and they were armed. Only the gatekeepers could allow you to go in and unless you met certain standards, you were not allowed to enter. Gentiles could not enter. People with deformities could not enter, nor could those who were ceremonial unclean. The gatekeepers were strict. Of course you understand that God was not really in that Temple. As the Psalmist says, “Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.”{Psalm 115:3} He also said in Psalm 123:1, “I lift my eyes to you, the one enthroned in heaven.” Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven.” Repeatedly in the Revelation, John saw God on His throne…Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

So our God is in heaven seated on a throne and His court in filled with holy angels who beckon at His every command. How do we enter into the presence of our holy God? Jesus is the GATEKEEPER. Jesus is our great High Priest. We can go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean. Christ sacrificial death on the cross has opened the way. This is why the veil of the Temple was rent when He died. This huge and heavy curtain was 60 feet tall and 4 inches thick. It was so heavy that no single human could open it to enter. The writer of Hebrews said, So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Wow! I love that last line. I need help everyday and I find that grace in Jesus! Hallelujah, what a Savior! He is the ONLY way to the Father.

Extra

Hallelujah my corn has come up. It came up without the sun. Well we did have a couple of hours yesterday. I am tickled to death. I was beginning to wonder. TGIF day for all those in school and the work force. It is great to be semi-retired–you are going to love it.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

I keep forgetting: NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER is May 4 and many of us will be gathering at Flint Baptist Church at 11:30 for a prayer rally. I think they have one at the courthouse in Decatur and they are having one in Falkville. Take your pick and support the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. Lord willing, I will be at Flint.