I am generally an irreverent kind of person, not much impressed with pomp and circumstance nor over-awed by trappings of power. But I do know the wonder of worship and the humble response of awe in the Presence of God. Do you? We generally suffer from a lack of reverence in our time. We have seen too many of the ‘great’ with their failure revealed before the world. Remember that moment in The Wizard of Oz when Toto, Dorothy’s little dog pulls back a curtain and reveals that the Great Oz is a fraud, just a man pulling levers on a machine. There’s no magic, at all!
Reverence and wonder have been robbed from us when we come to think that all things are common, everything is understood if we can peel back the curtain. Oh I quite thankful for those who have given us discoveries of science that help us to live healthier, longer lives. I am grateful for our press that reminds us that the emperor has no clothes. But, there is a downside to our loss of wonder.
Many Christians no longer are able to live in humility before God, insisting that He explain, serve, and become more like us. We reduce God to bite-size. He is too often tamed, explained, trivialized, robbed of His majesty. A small god cannot guide nor guard. If make God only a Friend, but not our Sovereign, we will lose our ability for worship, for reverence, and for deep faith.
Job, that tested man of Bible story, brought his bitter complaint to the Lord. One of his friends, the youngest, challenges him to reconsider his challenge to God’s care and power. “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?" (Job 37:14-18, NIV)
Then the Lord Himself spoke to Job, not to explain but to invite renewed faith. Job’s response is one we all do well to follow. God said “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Then Job answered the LORD: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." (Job 40:2-4, NIV)
Habakkuk, the preacher, teaches us that the Lord God will inspire great hope. He deeply loves His people, but He also holds them responsible for their choices and unapologetically demands their holy service. Habakkuk wonders at the foolishness of idol-making that stole the majesty of the One who is Creator of all. “Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”
We may not carve wooden figures to receive our worship, but
we often create our own gods. We reject the mystery of His majesty too often,
irreverently rushing to Him without knowing His holiness. In this God becomes,
to us, a misshapen and twisted caricature, Someone we keep around for times of
trouble and forget when the sun shines brightly. The preacher starkly says - “But the Lord
is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” (Habakkuk
2:18-20, NIV)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the majesty of God.
Let Him be Who He is; amazing, infinite, holy, beautiful, omnipotent, worthy of honor.
Here is a word from the Word.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)
Are you reverent? That sense of awe, of profound respect, is
the heart of worship.
(Video of this blog at this link)
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Majesty worship His majesty
Unto Jesus be all glory
Honor and praise
Majesty kingdom authority
Flow from His throne
Unto His own His anthem raise
So exalt lift up on high
The name of Jesus
Magnify come glorify
Christ Jesus the King
Majesty worship His majesty
Jesus who died now glorified
King of all kings
Jack Hayford
© 1981 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
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