Worship Devotional XXV
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 5/15/2020.
Worship Devotional for 5/17/20
This week we continue to focus on the name of Jesus. We will consider what is in a name and why it is significant to talk and sing about the name of the Lord. We will also consider the worth attached to one's name as we hear the inquiry of the mighty angel in Revelation 5:2, "Who is worthy...?" Knowing the answer already, we confidently ask: Who can receive blessing and honor and glory? Is anyone truly worthy?
Songs for this week:
1) What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong
A name is more than just a word or how it sounds when it is spoken. Consider what is in a name. There's a story, reputation, history, inheritance, authority, and meaning in one's name. When we sing about the name of Jesus, we are speaking and singing directly to and about the One who came to save all of mankind, the Messiah promised from before time began, and the King who will reign forever over all things. There is truly no name so beautiful, wonderful, and powerful as the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Knowing that His name is exalted in the heavens above every other name, we should realize that He is worthy of all that we are — all of our praise, service, works, glory, possessions, and anything else we have are from Him and for Him alone. Therefore we sing this song as a prayer that we would live completely for Him in everything, for we know from Philippians 1:21 that "...living is Christ and dying is gain." Everything we need, for whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, we have in the name of Jesus. Through whatever storms and fiery trials that may come, we cling to Him and proclaim the praise that is due His name.
3) O Praise The Name (Anastasis) by Hillsong
In thinking about the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we meditate on and think about the gospel. We cast our minds to Calvary and to what Jesus did there on the cross. This song is a call to praise as we remember the gospel.
4) Is He Worthy by Andrew Peterson
The Scriptures reveal to us the utter brokenness, darkness, and depravity caused by sin in this world. We see that this testimony is true as we observe the state of the world around us. However, Scripture also reveals to us the only One who is able to save and deliver us. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John saw a scroll in the hand of God seated on the throne in heaven. John heard an angel pose a powerful question in Revelation 5:2-3:
"Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.”
The scroll, we later discover, contains the final judgments of God on the earth. Opening the scroll means ushering in the end of this broken world and of this dark age. John weeps that no one is found worthy, but then Jesus, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain and yet lives, is revealed in verses 4-7:
"And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. Then one of the elders said to me, 'Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.' Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. He came and took the scroll our of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.”
He takes the scroll out of God's hand, for He alone is found to be worthy. This song is about these verses in Revelation. The question, "Is [insert name here] worthy" must always be answered with a resounding no, except when it contains the name of Jesus Christ! Am I worthy? I am not. Are you worthy? You are not. Are we worthy? We are not. Is He worthy? He is!
Scriptures for this week:
Psalm 45
Proverbs 18:10
John 10:24-30
Romans 8
Philippians 1:21, 2:5-11
Colossians 1:11-23
Hebrews 1-2
1 John 2:7-8, 3:1-3, 4:7-19
Revelation 4-5, 19:11-16, 21:1-7
Hold onto His name and give Him praise with all your heart as you endure the struggles and trials of this life. Let's continue to encourage each other as we draw closer to the Lord and praise Him together.