Seeds for 08/05/2024 - Praise - Revelation 4:8-11
In this series on prayer and scripture, we are following the acronym P.R.A.Y. as a guide for prayer. We are considering scriptures throughout the Bible on each theme. My prayer is that studying scriptures on these themes will give us biblical words to use as our own and simple insights for our praying.
Scripture:
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Observation:
There’s debate among various Christian denominations and traditions about the meaning of the Book of Revelation, but the fact that worship is a central theme is plain to see. The text today is an example of this. The broader context is John’s vision of the throne room of God. Here, he witnesses beast-like creatures and humans alike—twenty-four elders of the people—in worship together. A few observations of the scene:
First, worship is continuous and communal. Their declaration of God as holy and everlasting (v8) never ceases. Paul taught that we should pray without ceasing. When we have praise songs and hymns in our mind, then the worship of our gathered church community spills into our personal time. In this way, we are able to be present to the Lord with an orientation of worship wherever we go.
Second, authentic worship inspires generous relinquishment of what we have to God. The worship of the creatures prompts the twenty-four elders to lay their crowns—the ones that God had bestowed upon them—at His feet. Worship can do that to us and for us too. Authentic worship stirs something within us that leads us to give back to God what He has given to us, so that He may be glorified.
Third, authentic worship helps us remember His worthiness to receive our worship. God is the creator of everyone and everything. He is the reason we have the gift of life itself. He is great and He is good. He is worthy of our worship.
Application:
What has God given you that would make a good gift back to His service?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of all of my worship. Keep me away from any idolatries and keep me true to you. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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