Day 7: Thankful worship
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Heavenly Father, the psalmist, understanding Your power and Your majesty, leads a call to honor and worship You: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness (Psalm 29:2).
Though You invite us to come boldly unto the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16 - KJV), we can only enter Your holy presence because we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14). By Him, and through Him, and in His Name, You hold out to us Your scepter of grace:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through... His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… (Hebrews 10:19-22).
We thank You, O Father for the grace that allows us to come before You. Prophets, and others called by Your name who encountered Your glory shared the overwhelming experience of Your greatness, Your power, Your glory—Isaiah, Daniel, John:
I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphim, each with six wings... And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:1-5).
I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless (Daniel 10:7-8).
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos... On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard... a loud voice like a trumpet… I turned around to see the voice that was speaking…When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead… (Revelation 1:9-10, 12, 17).
Great and glorious God, no mortal power dares stand before You in life, or in death. Yet, through the grace You offer in our Lord Jesus Christ, You not only invite us to come boldly, but You bid us call You "Father."
Father, We come in thankful worship as You instruct, overwhelmed by Your amazing grace. Teach us to worship You acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28). You are God most high, most holy. In Your temple all cry, "Glory!" (Psalm 29:9).
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