Scripture
Vs 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy …?”
Vs 4 … and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy …
Vs 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more ….”
Vs 8 … and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb …
Vs 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You … “
Vs 11 … and the voice of many angels …
Vs 12 … saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain …”
vs 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Vs 14 … and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Observation
Weeping … Worthy … and Worship … the repeated themes of Revelation 5
John weeps that no one is worthy to open the scroll.
The weeping can stop when he is told One is Worthy … the Lion who has conquered.
When the weeping stops, the worship starts. John joins in the chorus of all creatures in worshipping the worthy Lamb who was slain.
Application
As a Christian, I don’t have to ride an emotional roller coaster.
John went from weeping at the impossible to worshipping the One who made it possible.
No so for me … I can worship always, because I worship what has already been done and revealed.
What’s more, I can encourage others not to weep. The elders said to John, “Weep no more!”
John thought things were hopeless. Hopelessness is a tragic and despairing place to live.
Unfortunately, many today see a world that is hopeless.
Perhaps, what’s more surprising is that even more don’t seem hopeless.
Because everyone who is not a Christian should feel the weight of hopelessness.
But I get to be the bringer of Good News … “There is One who is Worthy! Weep no more!”
So why don’t I do this more often? … How can my days not be filled with the bringing of Good News?
The answer, I’m afraid, is in what I worship?
Every living creature ultimately worship the slain Lamb.
The tougher question for me …. What am I worshipping immediately, not ultimately?
I will neglect the bringing of hope to others, when I neglect the worship of the One who is worthy today.
Am I worshipping my day … my agenda … my goals?
I will be blind to the hopelessness all around me when I do that.
Prayer
God, thank you again for your Word
Help it to drive me to worship today
Help me see the hopelessness around me
Help me bring the Good News of Your Worthiness
In Jesus Name
Amen