March 19: WORSHIP GOD!

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Revelation 22:8-9

This most recent revelation given to John—showing him the splendor and glory of the New Jerusalem—is so magnificent that he is once again overwhelmed. When he writes “Now I, John, saw and heard these things” it is as if he must pinch himself to make sure this is real! His reaction of worshipful adoration toward the angel, for the second time, requires the angel’s rebuke (see also 19:10).

Herein, we are reminded of a fundamental distinction between faithful angels and unfaithful. The unfaithful ones are willing to receive worship that is due only to God (see Matthew 4:8-10). Their work upon the earth, led by Satan, has been to deceive, entice, mislead, and coerce people to direct their worship, adoration, and even the small everyday decisions away from the will of God. But faithful angels refuse to receive worship, and instead direct the attention of the worshiper toward the Lord Himself. Revelation’s theme centers upon the concept of worship, for this is the arena of massive confusion, especially in our day and time. It is in focusing upon our Creator and Redeemer that we are remolded and made into His likeness; changed by beholding!

Humans are made a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7), yet the angel with John humbly identifies himself to John as your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets… In this identification of himself, the angel lends support to the fact that all of God’s intelligent creatures are given the gift of choice . . . to give glory to Him, or not. This is the most important decision to be made, and our loving God has suffered long in order to allow time for His creatures to decide … for or against. It is also true that humans are crowned with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7) even before a conscious decision to give Him their worship. Be aware that the lifelong process of sanctification occurs in small decisions that we make moment-by-moment. It is the little, careless decisions that cause us to stray from the right path. Decide today to use the glory and honor with which God has crowned you for His glory and not your own, even in what you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Notice that the angel also identifies with those who keep the words of this book. As you look to Him whose words these are, never forget His willingness to lay down His life, accepting the penalty of sin on your behalf.

We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hebrews 2:9-11