Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Father Knows Best” –Sunday, 9 March 2014 Scripture: Revelation 5

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Father Knows Best” –Sunday, 9 March 2014
Scripture: Revelation 5: 1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.” 6 I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sang a new song, saying,
“You are worthy to take the book,
    and to open its seals:
for you were killed,
    and bought us for God with your blood,
    out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10 and made us kings and priests to our God,
    and we will reign on earth.”
11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”[a]
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The [b] elders fell down and worshiped.[c]
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 5:13 TR omits “Amen!”
b. Revelation 5:14 TR adds “twenty-four”
c. Revelation 5:14 TR adds “the one living forever and ever”
“Father Knows Best” by Michael Paugh
The best time of day for me is in the morning, between 5:00 and 6:30 AM. At this time everything is peaceful, everyone else is sleeping, and I can spend time with the Lord. It is this time of day when I, like the psalmist, can say, “I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever” (Psalm 86:12).
There is something about singing praise to our Lord who is worthy of our praise. The very last verse in Psalms tells us, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Psalm 150:6). By praising God with our whole being we are offering Him a sacrifice of praise, a spiritual offering. It is through this sacrifice of praise that we are ushered into the presence of the almighty King. There we sing the praise of the “Lamb who was slain” for our sin. He is worthy of our highest worship, our deepest devotion, and our greatest honor.
Our heavenly Father, whose wisdom surpasses all understanding, knows what is best for our lives. He wants to communicate this to us. Today, let’s spend time worshiping, praising, and listening to Him. 
Hymn for Today:
“Sing with All the Saints in Glory” by William J. Irons
1. Sing with all the saints in glory, 
sing the resurrection song! 
Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, 
to the former days belong. 
All around the clouds are breaking, 
soon the storms of time shall cease; 
in God's likeness we, awaking, 
know the everlasting peace. 
2. O what glory, far exceeding 
all that eye has yet perceived! 
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading, 
never that full joy conceived. 
God has promised, Christ prepares it, 
there on high our welcome waits. 
Every humble spirit shares it; 
Christ has passed th'eternal gates. 
3. Life eternal! heaven rejoices; 
Jesus lives, who once was dead. 
Join we now the deathless voices; 
child of God, lift up your head! 
Patriarchs from the distant ages, 
saints all longing for their heaven, 
prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages, 
all await the glory given. 
4. Life eternal! O what wonders 
crowd on faith; what joy unknown, 
when, amidst earth's closing thunders, 
saints shall stand before the throne! 
O to enter that bright portal, 
see that glowing firmament; 
know, with thee, O God Immortal, 
"Jesus Christ whom thou has sent!"
Thought for Today:
“We are made for larger ends than Earth can encompass. Oh, let us be true to our exalted destiny” (Catherine Booth).
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Fiji!
-------
WordAction Publishing Company
Beacon Hill Press
Nazarene Publishing Company
2500 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States
Embrace holy living…visit reflectinggod.com.
-------