Daily Devotionals

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way Week 4: Wednesday

Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty- the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come." Revelation 4:8

The Christian music artist Christ Tomlin wrote, "You and I were made to worship." These lyrics are profoundly true. We were created to worship. While many things are competing for our attention and affection, only one Person is worthy of our worship: God. That is why, when we get to Heaven and God restores everything, one of the things that we will get to do is worship Him. 

Revelation 4 gives us a picture of the worship that will take place in Heaven, where everything that was lost in the Garden of Eden will be restored. John, the writer of Revelation, saw a vision where He saw a throne in Heaven that Jesus was seated on. Around the throne were creatures who day and night said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come" (verse 8). These creatures existed to worship God. This worship prompted more surrounding them to worship Jesus. Twenty-four elders fell down to worship Jesus and laid their crowns before Him. In this vision, John was getting a glimpse of what Heaven will be like and the worship we can join in.

We were created to worship God. When we worship, we engage in what we all were made to do. This will take place in Heaven, but it can take place right now, too. Even today, you and I can live a lifestyle of worship. We can worship God through singing like the elders in Revelation 4, pointing people to Christ, and living a life that points people to God, the Creator of the world. Chris Tomlin was right. You and I were made to worship. Will we lean into this calling we have been given? This kind of worshipful lifestyle points people straight to Jesus.

Moving toward action

Sing a worship song today out loud to God. Think about the lyrics you are singing, praising God for who He is and everything He has done for you. As you do this, you engage in what you were created to do and recognize God's greatness.

Going Deeper

Revelation 5:1-14 (NLT)

" Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals."

6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words:

"You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign on the earth."

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered-
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing."

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever."

14 And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb."