Title: A Heavenly View/ Topic: Our Awesome God

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 8; Ezekiel 9; Ezekiel 10; Ezekiel 11; Revelation 4

Scripture: Revelation 4:6-11
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Observation: Creatures with six wings, eyes covering their bodies, heads with four faces of different creatures. This sounds like stuff from a scary science fiction movie. And indeed, when Ezekiel first saw these creatures he fell down as though dead. He was afraid. These creatures are awe-inspiring. What do we find these awe-inspiring creatures doing in this view into heaven? Praising an even more awesome God. And along with them all the elders also prostrate themselves in worship to God. This is our God who loves us and wants intimate fellowship with us. Because God is our friend, I think we sometimes have too much of a "buddy-buddy" attitude toward Him and lose the sense of honor and respect we need to have. I think the lack of proper respect also leads us to hold back in worship. The twenty-four elders aren't concerned about being dignified in their worship; they fall down and cast their crowns at the feet of the Lord.

Application: I need to always make sure I keep God in the place of ultimate honor. I also need to be unconcerned about how I look to others when I'm worshipping God. My dignity doesn't need to be protected. The balance to that statement is that I need to love my fellow believers enough to make sure I'm not making such a spectacle of myself in public worship that I distract them from focusing on the Lord and cause them to focus on me.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me a glimpse into heaven. I need to see Your awesomeness, power and glory. You are worthy of all praise. May I give you my unfettered worship here on earth and may the whole church do the same. May we experience Your holy presence on a daily basis as we give You what is Your due.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.