Respect, Honor and Praise

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost."

Book of Common Prayer

Respect, Honor and Praise

Patrick Morley

Lamentations 2: 1-22

SITUATION Jeremiah's second lament spoke of affliction and deliverance. Solomon's Temple symbolized God's presence in Israel. Its destruction represented God's rejection of his people because of their stubborn sinfulness.



OBSERVATION God cares more about how we worship than where we worship him.


If we ponder who God really is before we carelessly utter any remark before or about Him, surely we will render a more considered, respectful utterance. There is no difference from the respect we would show the distinguished stranger if we knew his true identity. When once we see Him as He really is, the trite or casual remark no longer seems appropriate.



In fact, when we know the God who is, our first reaction is to hide from the awfulness of His presence. We want to see the face of God, until the presence of His glory draws near. Then, we want Him to hide us in the cleft of a rock. His presence is like peals of thunder and fierce winds of a violent storm, and we reconsider the foolishness of our whim to see Him. He is a holy god. Not only holy--but holy, holy, holy. 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8)



. . . Let us reconsider who God is--His power, His wealth, His wisdom, His glory, His honor, His Praise. Let us take our cue from the living creatures, elders, and the angels. Let us not approach the God who is holy, holy, holy with caprice or unthinking casualness.



Let us come into his presence with praise and thanksgiving, but also in sober recognition that were in the presence of the Holy, "Let us then approach,the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16), but with the bearing and respect we would show to the One whose identity we have learned; the God who is, who created all things, in whom we have our being.



When you come apart to meet with God, consider these statements as you being your time in His presence. Pause and mediate upon them:



* Father, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.



* Lord Jesus, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.



* Holy Spirit, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.



Enter into the presence of God who is, with the respect and honor and praise He is due. (From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morley)



APPLICATION Worship God in prayer and song. Find a song that lifts your heart to God; sing it throughout the day. Thank God often for his help and love for you.



EXPLORATION Worship -- Nehemiah 9:2-3; Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 29:13-14; Jeremiah 7:2-3; John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.



The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers.