Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
What It Looks Like in Church
When I read Psalm 100:4 where it says we’re to enter his gates with thanksgiving, the psalmist could have been writing about entering the gates of the temple and giving Him thanks that He is overwhelmingly due, but he also includes entering his courts with praise. These courts could be those where one would have to enter into before going into the temple. The temple had outer gates, then the courts, and finally the temple. The psalmist first entered the gates with thanksgiving for the goodness of God and then passed through the courts with praise. This is what it would look like for the life of the believer to enter into church with thanksgiving and praise, and since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), we should live a life of gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise for all that God has done for us (John 3:16; Rom 5:18, 10).
What It Looks Like at Home
How often do you express thankfulness at home? Do your children hear you thanking God and praising Him, or do you, as I sometimes do, grumble about your estate in life like the Israelites did in the wilderness? I confess that I have, but quickly repented of that because I have so much to praise God for, like my salvation (John 3:16), and thank Him for, like my family, home, job, friends, and the list goes on and on (Psalm 107:22; 127:3). Do my children or my grandchildren see me praying with thanksgiving before meals and for the many blessings that come into my life, and am I regularly thanking God and giving Him praise for my spouse, my children, and my grandchildren? That’s what I believe a life of praise and thanksgiving should look like at home.
What It Looks Like in Public
I used to get in trouble at work for sharing my faith with others, but it was a risk I was willing to take because God has compelled us to participate in the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Too often I have sinned the sin of omission by denying Him before others (Matt 10:33). Everyone I know at work and in my community and people who know me any place I go in public should clearly know that I have been born again and that I am so thankful to God for my salvation that I desire to share the good news with others because God desires that others would be saved, too (2 Pet 3:9). My life should exemplify an outward show before others of my praise and thankfulness to God, and that is what my life should like.
A Closing Prayer
Great God, You are so gracious and kind to me, and I have every reason to be giving You praise and thanksgiving. You deserve the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 116:17) because You have been better to me than I surely deserve, and I thank You and praise You in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
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