the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Psalms 24:7. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. Psalms 118:19. Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Isaiah 62:11. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation Zechariah 9:9.
Thus the Son of God was proclaimed to the pious Israelites; thus they waited for Him, and thus they expected Him. Now that He is here, few or none concern themselves about Him. At that time they lifted up their "gates" and opened wide the "doors" of their hearts, wishing that He might enter. Now, after He is come, the doors and the gates are closed against Him. Not so, dear soul! Enlarge your heart. Close the doors of your senses outwardly against the world and open them inwardly to the coming Redeemer. Yearn for Him with all the desire of your heart. He is knocking for admittance into your heart by His Word and by His Spirit, saying, "Open unto me; make your gates high and wide. " He announces Himself to you by His messengers; they must, according to His commandment, cry out to you, "Daughter of Zion: thy King cometh unto thee. " Wilt thou not hear? Wilt thou like the whole world still close thine heart and let Him wait until His patience and mercy are at an end and the time of thy visitation hath passed by? Yearn for Him; open thine heart to Him now, when. He announces Himself, now when He knocks for admittance; then shall He, the righteous One, come in unto thee and make thee righteous. He, the Savior, will save thee and help thee where thou art helpless, in thy sanctification and salvation, in the battle against sin, the >world, and the devil. For it is written, "Who is this King of glory? " and the answer is, "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. " Such a King you need; without Him you can not be victorious.
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here;
Life and salvation He doth bring.
Wherefore rejoice, and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now,
Creator, wise art Thou.
