Follow the Lamb - 21 Day Study on the Book of RevelationSample

Day 18: Worshiping in Babylon

Scripture Reading:

‘Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come into his presence with singing.’

- Psalm 100.1-2 (NRSV)

As we read through the Revelation, we are confronted by some shocking images. We are shown the results of deciding to follow evil and disobey God. We are reminded that Satan is real, that spiritual warfare is present and an ongoing part of life until Jesus’ return. However, as John proclaims, ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it' (John 1.5 NRSV). Throughout the Revelation, we find many spots of sunshine to bring us warmth, joy, and hope. We have before us the promise of a future where we will be in such rapture that we will be moved to continual worship and that this will be in his intimate presence, as we will have the privilege of drawing near to him on his throne. We will be in his home, his sons and daughters welcomed in, loved and accepted, just as when, as adults, if fortunate, we return to our parents’ home, and still have a room set aside for us, and make free with the fridge and the remote with comfort, through our parents’ loving grace.

We are called to worship wholeheartedly. In the Revelation, we see the worshippers moving their bodies, playing instruments, singing, and praying. Worship is an ongoing state of mind of being God-centred and finds its expression in an active embodiment of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. We are all different and are called to different ways of expressing our love for God; some of us may dance or sing for joy, lie down or kneel in awe, raise our arms in praise, sit still contemplating God’s nearness, respond to music as enabling expression of our own thoughts and feelings, or enjoy times of silence, listening for God’s voice. Whatever our preferences, when we worship, we enter for a moment in time into a foretaste of heaven. We are conscious of the intimate presence of God. Although, for some worshippers through time and space, we may be living under a political system like Rome or Babylon, although we may be in slavery, poverty or famine, thanks to the infilling of the Holy Spirit, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ, thanks to the love of the Father, in worship, we have access to the throne of God, the tender closeness of the child to the parent, which one day we will have forever.

Some things to think about:

1. What is one experience of worship which you recall with joy?
2. Do you have a favourite style of worship music?
3. Do you usually feel closer to God with other people or alone?

Prayer:

God worthy of adoration, I thank you for sending your Son so I may be in right-relationship with you. Thank you for sending your Spirit so I may have you in my heart. I pray that I may honour you more and more each day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.