Today’s Reading, Revelation 4-8
Focal Scripture: Revelation 5:13 “I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Participating in worship that focuses on God is an amazing thing to experience. I have had several instances where I have seen God move in a worship environment. Each time it has happened God was the focus and Christ was magnified. They are transformative encounters with a holy God that can’t be duplicated and changed how my view of worship should look in the local church setting.
In today’s reading John is seeing heaven look for one who is worthy to open the scrolls. As they look they see a lamb as it had been slaughtered (alluding to Jesus). They declare that he is the only one who is worthy to open the scrolls. Then all of heaven responds in worship. They declare the greatness of Christ the lamb of God. Every being responds in worship because that is our correct posture before Jesus. We get a glimpse of our natural position before Christ.
In this chapter we see the rightful response to Christ. So my question for you is how do you worship Jesus? It won’t always be a powerful experience but it should always be a genuine experience. Our worship should be an overflow from the heart.
This is why what we listen to and sing matters when we worship Jesus. In today’s church culture many songs are focused on the worshiper instead of the one who is worthy to be worshiped. These songs are calling in God to do something instead of responding to his holiness. Songs are written with bad theology and written in a way to get clicks instead of focusing on an audience of one.
I am not saying all music today is bad there are some good songs and artists. However, I have experienced more people performing for an audience instead of leading people in worship. This even happens in most churches whether the singers are good or bad.
My challenge for you today is to experience genuine worship. Expect it from yourself and even your local church. The singers don’t have to be great performers but they should be great leaders of congregational worship.
To experience powerful worship we must acknowledge the reason we worship. Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Revelation 9-11
