"Worship is not something we “work up,” it is something that “comes down” to us, from the character of God." - Sinclair Ferguson
Revelation and response are the rhythm of our worship (Rom 12:1). God reveals Himself, and we respond. There can in fact be no right worship, without God’s revelation of Himself - thus the reason we cannot ‘work up,’ our worship. Right worship is the response of our whole lives to God’s revelation of Himself. And where do we see God’s revelation of Himself? Everywhere.
Scripture tells us that no one is without excuse because God’s creation reveals our Creator (Rom 1:20, Ps 19:1).
People, all of whom are made in the image of God reveals some small glimpse of the Father (Gen 1:26, Gen 5:2).
God’s Word reveals Himself to us - it is living and active, He inspired the Word to be written, He speaks through it even now (2 Tim 3:16, Heb 4:12).
God reveals Himself through His Spirit, the One through whom we are led in all truth to Jesus (Jn 16:13).
God reveals Himself through His Son, His great love in sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Jn 3:16, Rom 8:32).
God reveals Himself in His Church, the ones who are tasked to love one another as Christ has loved us, to display His heart and character in our slow transformation to resemble our Savior in His life, death, and resurrection (Jn 13:35, Rom 6:5).
God reveals Himself in all of our brokenness. The awareness that we are not - our world is not - as it should be. God reveals Himself as the one who has come and is coming again to make all things new, wipe every tear, and see every sad thing become untrue (Rev 21:5, Is 65:17).
Don’t work up your worship, open your eyes to a God who has revealed Himself in the darkest places as the One who illuminates our hearts.
Father, reveal yourself to us. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to comprehend, and lives to obey. Let us respond to You with worship. Amen.
To worship,
AB