Christ's Worth-Ship

Revelation 5:6-14 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which ate the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which ate the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song , saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying; “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” The four living creatures said, Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Taking a long weekend to fly back to Iowa this week to visit my mother-in-law, we joined the family for their Sunday Worship service @ Faith Lutheran church in Spencer, where Pastor Lee Laaveg Is currently preaching through a series titled: “Marks of Discipleship”, with the sub-title; “Following Jesus as Servants of the Kingdom”. This week’s “mark of discipleship” was “Worship”. What does it mean to worship? Have you ever been seared in your spirit to the sense of “awe of God”? Have you ever seen one of those spectacular sunsets where the colors reflect in an indescribably brilliant display of colors reflecting off the bottom of the clouds, which stop you in your tracks. This happened to my dad and I as we were driving through western Arizona one peaceful afternoon, where us and everyone else on the road had to just pull the car over and stop to enjoy a scene that Scientist can explain the “how and why?”, but not the wonder of Creator God’s beauty that fills our soul experiencing it. The words of Romans 1:19-20: "what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse", became real, as we offered praise-filled worship, centered in the presence of God at what was before our eyes. It may have been natural, but Nature’s Creator God made it and it was truly awesome!

Worship is defined as reverence, humble exultation, and adoration of God for who He is.  Worship is a word derived from the old English word “worth-ship”, which is a verb, so if we are not moved by our worship of God due to His worth-ship, then we need to look at ourselves for the reason “why not”. What hinders you from worshiping  Worship is as aspect of following Christ, who is worthy, as a serving disciple because there is a link in believing the gospel of Jesus to then follow and offer service in worship, centered in the His presence, changed by  His power and glory. Have you felt the presence of God? Do you conclude and believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, sent by God the Father, by His love and grace, as an atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins, and follow Him with your life as a response? Have you relinquished your “downward fall” of original sin and your “upward fall” of dethroning God and putting ourselves on the throne of our heart by putting the Lord in His “right” place in our life? Why do you believe that God is worthy of your praise? Worship is like the re-orientation that God is the purpose of my life, centered in His awesome worth-ship with praise. The word “awesome” is thrown around so loosely today, for just about anything, when it is meant for the highest level of reverence, fear and wonder caused by something majestic, sublime and sacred, but witnessing God and His greatness in the world in true “awe” leads us to know that The Lord is Divine and Sovereign. The wages of Sin is death, but God’s grace is greater than our sins. What is the magnitude of your and my sins before a “just” and “holy” God? Can God forgive your and my sins? That is what the gospel is all about. We were not worthy, but God is faithful and sent His Son to die on that Cross in our place as an atoning sacrifice to pay the price of our sins, that we may have forgiveness and eternal life.

Romans 11:33-12:1 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Submit to God, who is worthy of our life, and worship is life. The sum total of our life is offered to the Lord as a “living sacrifice” in worship as a disciple of our blessed Redeemer and Savior. His “worth-ship” is worthy of our praise. Glory be to God!

In Christ, Brian