The gates into the presence of God are always open.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

When you enter some of the greatest cities in the world, you can encounter famous gates such as the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin), the Jaffa Gate (Jerusalem), and the gates at Downing Street (London). Whether the gates were built for defensive or ceremonial purposes, they all represent the difference between being outside or inside certain areas of the city. Some are open; some are closed to all but a few.

The gates into the presence of God are always open. The familiar song of Psalm 100 is an invitation for the Israelites to enter into the presence of God through the temple gates. They were told to “shout for joy” and “come before him with joyful songs” (vv. 1–2). Shouting for joy was an appropriate expression when greeting a monarch in the ancient world. All the earth was to sing joyfully about God! The reason for this joyful noise was that God had given them their identity (v. 3). They entered the gates with praise and thanksgiving because of God’s goodness and His steadfast and enduring love which continues through all generations (vv. 4–5). Even when they forgot their identity and wandered away from Him, God remained faithful and still invited them to enter His presence.

The gates into God’s presence are still open, inviting us to come and worship.

What should motivate us to worship God? What statement of praise could you give to God today?

进到上帝面前的门永远敞开。

当称谢进入祂的门，当赞美进入祂的院；当感谢祂，称颂祂的名。-诗篇100篇4节

如果你到一些历史悠久的城市，或许会看到赫赫有名的城门，如柏林的布兰登堡门、耶路撒冷的雅法门以及伦敦唐宁街的大门。不论这些城门的建造是为了防御或礼仪，它们都能在城市里，区隔出内、外不一样的空间。虽然有些城门是开放的，但有些却只有少数人可以进入。

来到上帝面前的大门总是敞开的。众人都熟悉的诗篇100篇，就是邀请以色列百姓走过圣殿的大门，来到上帝的面前。诗人对以色列百姓说：“向耶和华欢呼”，并且“当来向祂歌唱”（1-2节） 。

在古时，欢迎君王到来时，人们往往都会大声欢呼。因此，全地都当向上帝欢呼歌唱！以色列百姓应当欢呼，因为上帝让他们成为祂的子民（3节） 。他们带着感谢与赞美进入上帝的门，全因为上帝的良善与慈爱坚定恒久、直到万代（4-5节） 。即便他们忘了自己的身分而远离上帝，祂依然信实，且依然欢迎他们回到祂的面前。

如今，进到上帝面前的大门仍然敞开，欢迎我们来敬拜祂。

我们为何敬拜上帝呢？
你今天要向祂献上什么样的赞美呢？

Psalm 100New International Version (NIV)

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.2  Worship the Lord with gladness;come before him with joyful songs.3 Know that the Lord is God.It is he who made us, and we are his[a];we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name.5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

整理：于姊妹