While a prisoner in Japan during the Second World War, my great uncle Jack fell in love. His friend showed him a photograph of his sister, Frances, and the sight of her was enough for Jack to know, “I’m going to marry her!” His friend laughed, assuming he was joking, but when the war ended, Jack set off to his friend’s family address. Frances answered the door, and he immediately professed his undying love for this woman he scarcely knew, proposing marriage. “I could never marry a ginger!” she exclaimed. But soon enough she fell for him, and the two went on to live happily ever after.
How funny that Jack only required a photograph to fall in love with someone whose name he didn’t even know. How much more in love was he when he actually got to know her!
God’s Presence Living Inside of Us
Isn’t it beautiful how extravagantly Old Testament believers loved God despite not having the access to Him that we now do? They only had a glimpse (a photo) in comparison to the portion of God’s glory which has been revealed to us under the New Covenant.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:7: “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.”
A mere glimpse of the transitory glory caused Moses to be radiant, David to become undignified, Ezekiel to fall face-down, and Daniel to kneel speechless.
Wow. If Moses, who received the law which leads to death, saw enough of God to be radiant, how much more must our inside be radiant with the glory of God? While Moses saw God in a limited and external way, the Holy Spirit lives in us!
With the law, animal sacrifices had to be made to atone for our sins, and only the priests could enter God’s presence behind a veil in the tabernacle. Praise the Lord that Jesus has become the ultimate sacrifice so that we can approach Him with no veil – His presence now lives inside of us. How much more thankful should we be that we are part of a generation which doesn’t have to strive to receive God’s grace?
A mere glimpse of the transitory glory caused Moses to be radiant, David to become undignified, Ezekiel to fall face-down, and Daniel to kneel speechless. How much more extravagant should we be when we worship Jesus, whose glory far outshines that of the law and prophets?
Worship Demonstrates Our Love for Him
Philippians 2 tells us that, in humility, Jesus gave up His divine rights and took on the form of a human servant to the point of death. Because of this, God has “exalted Him to the highest place, and given Him a name that is above every other name, that every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10).
Our praise should be a reflection of how magnificent we think God is. And even then, His majesty is beyond our understanding, for we haven’t yet seen the fullness of God. One day we will see Jesus in all His splendour, and we will fall down in an eternal posture of worship. Kneeling, lying prostrate, dancing before Him, doesn’t begin to express the adoration our King deserves.
Yet, how gracious is our King that He would choose to inhabit the praises of His people? How beautiful that our majestic God steps out of the heavenly courts just to listen to our love songs to Him.
If we truly love Jesus and our hearts are devoted to beholding Him, then there should be a demonstration of this love.
Jack went to great lengths to express the love in his heart for Frances. He bought her flowers, took her dancing and wrote her poems. He would never have gone to such effort if he didn’t love her.
Worship expresses the condition of our hearts. If we truly love Jesus and our hearts are devoted to beholding Him, then there should be a demonstration of this love. For Mary, it was perfume poured over Jesus’ feet. For Daniel, it was his diet. For David, it was his dignity. For Joseph, it was his freedom. For Stephen, it was his life!
One of my favourite films is ‘A Knight’s Tale’, a story about a knight who, in pursuit of the princess’ hand in marriage, tells her, “I shall win this jousting competition for you!” She responds, “If you truly love me, then you will lose this competition.”
Perhaps the Lord is asking us to lose some things – our dignity, our agendas, our comfort – in order to magnify Him.
Hebrews 13:15 tells us to offer God a sacrifice of praise. Perhaps the Lord is asking us to lose some things – our dignity, our agendas, our comfort – in order to magnify Him. Why don’t you ask Him if there is anything you need to make lower to make God higher in your life, and allow Him to speak to you today?
