“Lift up your heads, O Gates! And be lifted up O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. “Psalms 24:7
We need to daily declare all spiritual obstacles be removed that stand in the way of our wholehearted submission to God’s reign. Jesus is King of Kings. So we need to both Spiritually and in the physical sense welcome His reign. Lift up our heads signifies humility and readiness. When we stand in reverence of God , we allow Him to come into our lives and lead us. (Beth Moore)
A quote from John Piper,” Each time we cry out for God’s presence, we are echoing the call written in the Psalms. We should always be ready to open our hearts.
This past Sunday was Palm Sunday and we are going into the Holy week. Usually, we reflect the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. My attention was drawn to the donkey, who was ready in every way to give a ride to the King of Kings. According to scriptures, he had never been ridden. I used to have 6 horses and a horse or donkey that has never been ridden needs to be broken, a bridle put on after lots of carrots, then slow conditioning to the clothes, or weight of a saddle or a person, it takes time in the natural. But Jesus knew that the donkey was there waiting for Him. Waiting to be the Christ-bearer, the vessel God used to carry Jesus into Jerusalem. Waiting to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Only the Holy Spirit, going before Jesus and His disciples could make this donkey ready for the King. It was all the will of God. Zechariah had prophesied 500 years earlier that a King would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey-“Be full of joy, O people of Zion! Call out in a loud voice, O people of Jerusalem! See, your King is coming to you. He is fair and good and has the power to save. He is not proud and sits on the son of a female donkey.” He needed the donkey to represent peace, service and humility. The donkey submitted to be led, no resistance. Just simple obedience! The donkey was willing to obey, this was supernatural for one who has never been ridden. The donkey carried Christ, as our mission is to lift up Jesus. Willing, obedience opens many doors. We need to be ready, like the donkey- to carry Jesus to the world, and to check ourselves that we remain obedient, with wholehearted submission to His will, keeping our hearts guarded and open for the King of Glory to come in.
Jesus Christ chose to submit to the Father’s will for humanity. He willingly laid His life down, died on the cross, then rose again in 3 days and He is a living, risen, savior, Christ our King!!!
Ask Him into your heart today, He took all your shame, pain, sickness and bondage upon Himself, so that you may be free and have eternal life just as He lives today. We celebrate His resurrection this Sunday but ask Him into your heart, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and lead and guide you through His Holy Word, he will direct your path today, and every day for the rest of eternity!
Lift up your heads, and let the King of Glory come in!