In preparation for my series in 2023 on Revelation, I have been reading Revelation over and over in different translations. While they all offer the same yet different perspective, there is one overarching theme which comes through.
WORSHIP
Over and over we read of worship taking place. I challenge you over the next 22 days to read one chapter a day and mark the number of times you see worship or some description of Jesus.
There is probably no better depiction of worship than in chapters 4 & 5. If you read nothing else, take a moment to read and ponder those two chapters.
It got me thinking. How many times have you or I said or heard someone say, “That was a waste. I got nothing out of that worship service.” That is rather revealing in at least 3 different ways.
- It really was bad. The sermon misfired (it is possible you know?); the music landed with a thud and did not lead to worship; the whole experience was dead.
- The mindset and heart of that person (or me) was not in a “ready to hear” mode. But it is much more convenient to place blame elsewhere.
- Worship never happened because it involves a sense of expectancy on the part of the listener, as well as the willingness to offer ourselves. For lack of a better way to say it, we get out of it what we put into it. There needs to be some give and take.
Worship involves being involved-engaged. It means the worshiper puts his/her heart and soul into offering himself/herself to God in praise and adoration to the Father. The Father, the Source and object of worship, then meets His worshiper.
Check out the following verses:
- 4:8-“They do not cease to say.”
- 4:10-“saying.”
- 5:9-“sang a new song.”
- 5:12- “saying with a loud voice.”
- 5:13- “saying.”
Sounds like engagement to me. You get the point. Worship involves engagement-me and you engaging with the Father.
When someone (or me) says, “I got nothing out of that today; what a waste!” unless it is false teaching or progressive (heretical) teaching, I’m more inclined to ask, “And what did you put into it?” I need to point the finger at my own heart.
What do you think?
I would only add that worship is not about what I take away from it, though God always gives back more than I put in… My expectation should be simply to offer myself, my entire being, and specifically my heart, to my creator. I should expect an encounter with God when I do so. But even if I don’t “feel it”… It doesn’t excuse me from offering myself.
I do agree with you Ryan and didn’t communicate that very well. Worship should not be about what we take away. It should be what we give to God. However, I’m inclined to think that because we are humans we do look for that “take away.” I do know that when I commune with God during worship, my soul is replenished. If that is the take away I’m all for it. 🙂
I will accept your challenge. I am not finished reading Blessed yet, but I am close, and it has really made me so much more comfortable with Revelations. The next challenge is to read Revelations. I am excited to do that for the first time in my life. As far as worship goes, I fall really short of truly giving God the worship He deserves. I should be praising throughout the day every day, not just during pray time, reading the Bible, or walks in the woods. It should be so in tuned with my day, that my day itself is worship and I cannot say that I do that like I should at all.
I’m excited to hear you are taking on the challenge Gail. Revelation has always been a “Off” book for me. Reading through the Bible it was easy to skip it and go on to Matthew or even Genesis. As for your thoughts on worship; I agree. Worship should be throughout the day, not just certain “holy” times. 🙂
I do like this challenge you’ve set before us, Bill, in reading Revelation throughout Advent. I think I’ll take you up on that.
Blessings!
Thank you Martha. I think it will be a “fun” exercise.