Revelation 4:9-11 (ESV)
_And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,_
_“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,_
_to receive glory and honor and power,_
_for you created all things,_
_and by your will they existed and were created.”_
This week, we have been learning about how to properly worship God. However, it is important that we realise that we cannot fully and perfectly worship God on this side of heaven because we live in a sinful world and our worship will therefore, from time to time, be marred by sin. Nevertheless, the Bible introduces us to a different kind of worship, one that is free from any impurities of sin. This is what the apostle John saw when he was given a vision of the throne room of God. Before the throne he saw two different kinds of beings worshipping the LORD – the four living creatures and the twenty four elders.
The worship of the four living creatures and the twenty four elders involved an acknowledgement of who God is: That He is perfectly holy and mighty; that to Him alone belongs all glory, honour and power. Later on, in Revelation 5, we see the lamb who was slain and is now the lion of the tribe of Judah, the conquering king. Alongside God, He is worshipped by the angelic hosts saying:
_“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,_
_to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might_
_and honor and glory and blessing!”_ (Revelation 5:12)
Thus we learn from this worship in heaven that worship emanates from our realisation of who God is and what He has done. We must constantly remind ourselves that God is holy and mighty and that He has redeemed us and made us a kingdom of priests. Also, as we behold this sin-less worship in heaven, we are made to sin less by beholding the purity of our God. Thus, together with all the hosts of heaven we must worship declaring:
_“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb_
_be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”_ (Revelation 5:13)
Reflections
1. What has been your greatest lesson from this week’s devotions?
2. How should the worship that we see in heaven influence our worship here on earth?
3. In what ways does the holiness of God motivate you to pursue personal holiness?
