DEC 23

Revelation 7:9-12
Memorise Rev 4:1-11
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”

But before we look at what heavenly worship is all about, let us examine what worship is like today. It is troubling that the worship service that is conducted in many churches today is of the casual, frivolous, flippant type. It is not heavenly but earthy worship. According to popular Christianity today, a good worship service is one that is filled with energy, excitement and entertainment. The Church is supposed to be in the world but not of the world, but today we find the Church both in the world and of the world.

Worldly rock and roll music characterises much of modern-day worship. Musicians and singers emulate their worldly counterparts by jumping, dancing, hopping from one corner to the other, twisting their bodies here and there on stage. The lyrics and melodies are either loud and jarring, or soft and sentimental. The songs have this romantic feel to them. They sing as if God was their boyfriend or their girlfriend. They have a false idea of love that comes from Hollywood. Worship in these charismatic and contemporary churches is worship MTV style—loud and wild, carnal and sensual.

Dear friends, we must not worship God according to Hollywood but according to the Holy Word, Our worship must not be earthy but heavenly. Worship is a very serious and solemn exercise. In the book of Revelation we do not find worshippers jumping up and down, but all falling prostrate, faces to the ground in humble submission to God (Revelation 4:10; 5:8,14). You find the people displaying reverential fear. If we are required to conduct ourselves most decently and properly before dignitaries—kings, queens, emperors, presidents, Prime Ministers, etc—how much more ought we before our God who is the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Thought: “What contempt will be incurred if we do not preserve dignity in the Church, by conducting ourselves honourably and becomingly?” (Calvin).
Prayer: Lord, may we worship Thee with great reverence and fear.