Worship God.

I had the sweet privilege yesterday to sit down with a group of teenage girls and go through Revelation 1. A couple of years ago I wrote a curriculum on the book of Revelation for my church and when these girls found out, they were hungry to learn. Many look at the book of Revelation with fear. But, “Fear not!” The book of Revelation is a source of hope and redemption for the Christian, while a warning of coming judgment for the non-believer. If you are a Christian, you have nothing to fear. The detail the Lord provides, revealing what’s to come, readies the believer while encouraging all to go into the world and share the gospel. The lost need to be found.

The book of Revelation teaches us how to worship God. Revelation 22:9b says, “Worship God.” There is only One on the throne. We worship Him. Revelation gives us a picture of heaven; it reveals Jesus Christ. So as we girls studied the vision of Christ’s glory in Revelation 1, we looked at the amazing hymn written by Helen Lemmel, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

 

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion-

For more than conqu’rors we are!

 

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

 

I seriously love that hymn! “Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!” That word, “Go!”

As I sit here this morning reading through the book of Mark, reading about the Lord’s supper in Mark 14:22-26, the Lord reminded me that Jesus sang hymns. As Jesus took the bread and blessed it; broke it and gave it to his disciples, he said, “Take, eat; this is My body”- Mark 14:22. The bread is not Jesus’ actual body, it is a symbol of his body broken for us. A reminder. Jesus then took the cup and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them and they all drank from it and He said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many”- Mark 14:23-24. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. For there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood- Hebrews 9:22; and it is by His stripes that we are healed- Isaiah 53:5. A call to remember. A call to worship God.

After this, they sung a hymn. It is said that they possibly sang Psalm 118. Psalm 113-118 were psalms sung at Passover; they were called the praise psalms by the Talmud. The psalms are prayers set to song; beautiful in every way.

Worship reminds us that we are in the presence of God. So important! We are at the foot of the throne of grace. In the book of Revelation, the 24 elders fall flat on their face before the Lord in adoration and humility casting their crowns at His feet- Revelation 4:10.

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11. We were created for Him. We were created to worship Him. To worship in spirit and in truth. It is a call to be a true worshipper of our Lord and Savior, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him – John 4:23. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth”- John 4:24 NKJV.

I love that God knows we need reminders in life. He doesn’t condemn us, just knows it and owns it by giving us what we need. Calls to remember.

Will you pray with me?

Abba! Thank You for the many reminders You give us in Your word. You know we are but dust- Psalm 103:14; we are sheep needing a Shepherd- Psalm 23:1. Thank You for sending Your only Son to die on the cross for our sins, shedding His blood forgiving us. Salvation delivers us from the power and effects of sin by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. We are delivered. Free because of Your Son. Lord, there are many today that need to be reminded. They need to be reminded of what You did on the cross; they need to be reminded that they are saved by grace not works; they need to be reminded that they are not held down in bondage anymore. They are free. Lord, thank You for Your timeless truths that hold our heart steady. Thank You for gifting so many of the hymn writers with words that escape the bounds of time. We are blessed by their gift offered years ago. Would that encourage many today to press on, to use their gifts for Your glory knowing that You alone, Lord, determine the people they will minister to. It could be 20 years- 100 years down the line. Who knows? But You do, and that is all that matters. As we simply obey You Lord, You take that obedience and reach the lost with the gospel or the hurting Christian that needs a reminder of the love of their Savior. Lord, please fill Your people with Your Holy Spirit today so that they are empowered afresh to use their gifts in ways that are beyond them. You are too good. We love You so much! Thank You King for being our everything. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.