Tuesday, December 5
Worship
Scripture: Revelation 4
Revelation 4:8–11 Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying:
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful,
Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
since you created all things,
and because of your will they existed and were created!”
Observation
John is caught up to heaven where he witnesses the unending worship of God on His throne. The Lord is holy, all-powerful, eternal and timeless (He was, is, and is to come—past, present and future), lives forever, is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, and created all things as an expression of His will. That’s a mouthful! In other words, all the creatures in heaven are overwhelmed by the presence of holy God and can’t help but worship.
The worshippers speak and sing their praise, prostrate themselves before the Lord, and offer their crowns. Crowns were a symbol of achievement, victory, honor and authority. So the worshippers are offering whatever glory and honor and power they might have gained to the Lord. One day we will all cast our crowns before the One who is truly worthy of all glory and honor and power. Our very lives and all we’ve accomplished will be set at His feet in worship and honor.
“Who was and is and is to come.” This phrase matches the end of Paul’s doxology in Romans 11:33. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” Past: All things are from Him, the Creator. Present: All things exist through Him, the Sustainer. Future: All things are for Him, the End. He is the Beginning and the End and everything between.
Application
Our puny minds can’t even begin to comprehend the greatness of God. When we see Him, we’ll be overwhelmed and will fall on our faces in worship and cast our crowns at His feet.
So it behooves us to get started now.
Today, I will worship the Father, who was and is and is to come. I will cast my crowns at His feet, giving Him the glory and honor and power. Here’s my prayer:
Prayer: Lord, give me a fresh vision of You—the kind of vision that will inspire worship and surrender. Let me live out of that vision a life of worship and surrender. Not just an occasional song, but a life offered fully to You.
More: Hosea 4-5, Proverbs 28, Romans 11