There is beauty in serving together, a glory that reflects and magnifies God. I noticed it yesterday afternoon when our daughter, Rachael, asked for help sewing Vacation Bible School bugs and the girls and I pitched in. We sat on the floor and at the sewing machine working fabric, googly eyes, scissors, thread and pipe cleaners, the four ladies of our home. As I ran loose stitches in repetition for the pill bug, I wondered if perhaps we were experiencing a unique kind of worship. It was for God's purpose, by His enabling, and with the resources He'd provided. And, by His grace, it was free of bickering, pride and strife.
This morning as I sat down to read Revelation, I saw the same thing: And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (4:8)
The four creatures serve and worship together. There is not an aloneness, but a togetherness, a unity of purpose, mind, and spirit from God, the Author of life and unity. Think of it, left to ourselves we do it alone. We want it our way. We want the sense of accomplishment, of prestige and power that come with solitary success. But that is not God. God is three-in-one. God is present in His Body, the Church. God is a person of fellowship, submission and cooperation. And God is most glorified when we set aside our singularity in deference to His supremacy (Philippians 2, Romans 12, Ephesians 1-count the plural pronouns!).
I was also struck with the thought that, even if my being were full of eyes, I could never take in enough of God. Everything about Him is deserving of worship and praise, day and night, without ceasing. The verse, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," took on a whole new meaning. Our view and perspective are so clouded by sin and distractions that praise is far from our natural state. We cannot see His glory, let alone live in it. Perhaps, the farther we are from God and His glory, the less we live and speak with worship and praise. The clearer our vision, the closer we are to Him, the more we see and acknowledge His awesome power, might, wisdom and love.
May today be lived with praise and worship: in my conversation, meal preparation, laundry ministrations, time with husband and children. It can be. It should be. As God is present.
This morning as I sat down to read Revelation, I saw the same thing: And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (4:8)
The four creatures serve and worship together. There is not an aloneness, but a togetherness, a unity of purpose, mind, and spirit from God, the Author of life and unity. Think of it, left to ourselves we do it alone. We want it our way. We want the sense of accomplishment, of prestige and power that come with solitary success. But that is not God. God is three-in-one. God is present in His Body, the Church. God is a person of fellowship, submission and cooperation. And God is most glorified when we set aside our singularity in deference to His supremacy (Philippians 2, Romans 12, Ephesians 1-count the plural pronouns!).
I was also struck with the thought that, even if my being were full of eyes, I could never take in enough of God. Everything about Him is deserving of worship and praise, day and night, without ceasing. The verse, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," took on a whole new meaning. Our view and perspective are so clouded by sin and distractions that praise is far from our natural state. We cannot see His glory, let alone live in it. Perhaps, the farther we are from God and His glory, the less we live and speak with worship and praise. The clearer our vision, the closer we are to Him, the more we see and acknowledge His awesome power, might, wisdom and love.
May today be lived with praise and worship: in my conversation, meal preparation, laundry ministrations, time with husband and children. It can be. It should be. As God is present.
Love that idea -- most powerful worship must often occur in the context of the humdrum, the quiet, the pouring out of oneself without realizing it's a pouring out -- because we do it with such wholehearted willingness. Possessed by the love of God.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said! Thank you for your encouragement, Nancy. Our daily worship makes corporate worship that much sweeter.
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