Psalm 118:19-24
Open for me the gates of righteousness. I will enter them. I will give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate to the Lord. The righteous enter it. I will give you thanks, because you answered me, and you have become salvation for me. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We rejoice because Jesus has unlocked and opened the gates of heaven for all the righteous to enter. The world’s sins locked all people out of heaven, but Jesus’ suffering and death were for all, so whoever believes in him has eternal life. Because this gate was opened with only one key, and that is the forgiveness of sins Jesus won for us on the cross.
The Psalmist wrote, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Israel’s neighbors rejected them as small and insignificant, and you sent our Savior from them. Likewise, your Son came; Jesus was Israel reduced to one. The religious leaders scorned Jesus and judged him as unworthy to be the Messiah because he was not as they had imagined their Savior. Yet it was on Him and the forgiveness He won, which is the foundation of your church. So please let this serve as a warning for us never to reject Jesus, the cornerstone, and heaven’s door remains open to all who believe in Him.
Lord, we thank you that Jesus paid the price of all our sins, and only through faith, believing in Jesus heaven’s gate is swung open for us. There, we have salvation in Jesus; he is our salvation. We pray that you would forgive our sins for Jesus’ sake and send your Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith that we always hold to this truth. May we also rejoice in this day because you made it, and it is another day to share the good news of your salvation with everyone around us. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
We rejoice because Christ has made heaven available to all; it comes to us through faith in Him. Thank God for the good things He has done!