September 22: TRUE AND FALSE WORSHIP
So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4
Everyone worships someone or something. We are designed by the Creator for worship, and given a free choice to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24) or not. One of Satan’s most effective tactics is to receive worship meant for Jesus by diverting the worshippers away from the word of God. Such worship is in vain according to Jesus (Mark 7:7). Anything or anyone—including commandments of men—that deviate from the Word of the Creator and Redeemer suits the dragon perfectly, for that deviation renders minds open to further deceptions. But the child of God who wholeheartedly devotes his thoughts, energy, hopes and plans toward the Lord will receive the “heads-up” regarding the strategies of the worship-craving dragon. Our God has foreseen his traps and snares, and reveals them in His word. In these intense last days, this especially calls for careful, prayerful, and devoted study.
God’s love toward us is on display in countless ways, and He asks that we love Him in return. To love the Lord opens the door to meaning and purpose in this life that carries forward into eternity. Loving Him is expressed through worship, which may be defined as a mindset of service and obedience to Him. This includes caring for our bodies, which should be a high priority, as they carry our brains around. You can be sure that the enemy wants to weaken your brain. To wear the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) is to protect your brain through obedience to His word.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16
Worship is best understood as obedience. Obedience to Christ means your worship is directed at Him, and to serve Christ is to worship our heavenly Father. Those things that are placed above Him become idols with the potential to misdirect our affections, desires, our very souls. Our God wants each of us to have the joy that comes from the fulfillment of the purpose for which He created us.
We are still learning about the first of two allies for the dragon. The forming of this ally has been underway for millennia, and has been a tool in the hand of the dragon. The beast from the sea is rapidly gaining worldly strength and momentum in the overlapping realms of politics, religion, economics, and ecology. The rhetorical question, “Who is like the beast?” is a caricature of “Who is like God?” (see Exodus 15:11; Psalm 35:10; Micah 7:18). Jesus has many names in the Bible, and the name Michael is written in the context of direct confrontation with Satan (see Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). The name Michael means “Who is like God” and it is not a question. However, if taken as a question, the answer is: His Son!
The question, “Who is able to make war with [the beast]?” is meant as a taunt and it implies “no one.” But we are given spiritual armor and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17 again!) By His grace, we are enabled to stand in the heat of battle. Also, a day is coming when the “waters” of support will suddenly recede from the sea beast (Revelation 16:12). Before Jesus comes, the sea beast will be confronted with angry former supporters; angry over having been duped and misled (17:16-17).
Solomon said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.” 1 Kings 8:23