Permitted

So today marks a new landmark in my being an Arkansas Resident: I bought my fishing license. It's something I put off for over a year, and so something I enjoy doing is something I have not been able to do. And so, now that I am legal to do so, I will take some time with my kids (or on my own, depending on the day) and go fishing. In our society, you need a permit to do many things: drive, buy certain items, (in some cases) to travel, to enter certain building, and other things besides. The idea behind it is that we have permission to do something within the bounds of the law. I'm not here to make any political statements, but a Spiritual one: we even need a special permit to enter the presence of the Father. It is not gained by filling out paperwork, making a purchase, by birth, or any other such thing: it was won by the death of an innocent man. The price was high, and so many make light of it. For Jesus' suffering and dying upon a cross, we gained access to the Throne of Grace. Our permit was bought in the blood of Christ Jesus. We are called Heirs because of this, children of the most High! We should not treat it as a common thing, but, just as those things we value when we purchase them, treat this with a solemn joy, the ability to come before our Heavenly Father with thanksgiving, joy, awe and wonder.Let us then make everything an act of worship, not taking a single breath or moment for granted, and making appointments with the Father and keeping them. Consider what we are now permitted to do. Why don't we do it as often as we should? Why isn't everything we do because of the permission to enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise? Let every thing we do be in surrender to Christ Jesus, an act of worship and a sacrifice of praise. Psalm 100 English Standard Version (ESV)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for giving thanks.

100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2  Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;[a] we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 100:3 Or and not we ourselves