A Vision that Leads to Worship

Today's reading is Psalm 96 and is read by Rachel. Colin continues to teach us from the book of Revelation. Many people think of Revelation as a book which speaks primarily about judgment but it’s not! It’s a book that addresses the question of worship – of who and what we worship. John was in exile and the people he wrote to were suffering persecution – not exactly ideal conditions for worship we might think, but the Lord revealed himself to him and told him to look beyond his present circumstances to the unseen realities of God’s plan. He and his fellow-sufferers had been called out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. They had been called to patient endurance and to shine as God’s beacons, a colony of heaven on earth. When he turned to see who was speaking to him he saw one who reminded him of two passages in Daniel and his reaction was similar to that of Moses, Isaiah and Ezekiel before him – he fell at his feet and worshiped – he paid homage but was then given the commission to serve the risen and reigning Lord – the one who holds the churches in his hands and who walks among the churches, seeing everything that take place. Our worship should reflect those same aspects – homage and service.