I’m thankful for God’s provision in times when He asks me to trust Him; especially in situations where it doesn’t seem to make sense.
I spent my last week of ministry in Africa in Zomba, Malawi. I traveled to the team on Friday and was asked to preach on Saturday. I love preaching and teaching so I said, “Yes!” Not long after that, I asked God what He’d like to say to say to the church. The answer came quickly: “Don’t prepare anything ahead of time. I’l give you the words when you stand up there and start talking.” As I said, I love teaching and preaching but I really don’t love not being prepared to speak ahead of time. But I chose obedience and I was thankful that I did because it was so much better His way!
In typical African style, we were praising, worshipping, and praying before the sermon. One of the songs we sang talked about God as the Alpha and Omega. I knew right then that I was going to be speaking about Revelation 4:10-11.
“The twenty-four elders fall down before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and put down their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.‘”
Yahweh is Holy, Holy, Holy. That’s the only characteristic of His that is said three times when it appears. He is not described as glorious, glorious, glorious; majestic, majestic, majestic; mighty, mighty, mighty; or even love, love, love. Holy is the only trait that is said three times. But why? Well, I’m glad you asked! His holiness describes all his ways. To be holy is to be set apart; utterly unique. He is utterly unique in his love. He is utterly unique in his power. He is utterly unique in his glory. He is utterly unique in his beauty. He is utterly unique. He is holy.
Because he is holy, he is worthy. To be worthy of something means that it is befitting that you would receive it-it is a reasonable response to who you are. Yahweh is worthy of it all! He is Holy, Holy, Holy. If I stop and think about who He is-not just who I think He is, I will fall down and worship him. And that’s my only reasonable response. I need to retell myself this everyday! He is Holy, Holy, Holy!
And He is Holy in his love. Song of Solomon 4:9 “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride! You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.” When he says, “Stolen my heart” that means his heart beats faster. With just one glance, you make his heart beat faster. That how much He loves YOU! With one jewel in your necklace (a gift from Him) you have caught His eye and sped up His pulse!! That’s how much this Holy God loves you. That’s no small thing! Just like when a wife wears a necklace that her husband has gotten for her, He has given us each gifts and he absolutely loves when we use them. But it isn’t necessary. He loves us just the same if we don’t wear them.
My question is, “How are you ‘wearing your necklace?'” Because He LOVES when you do!
These are the things He gave me to share with this church. It was powerful and gave me chills! Why wouldn’t I trust a Father who loves like that? I’m so prone to forgetting. I need to remind myself everyday that He is Yahweh and I am creation. Remind yourself today who He is as Holy, Holy, Holy and that He provides for us as such. Life’s so much better this way-trusting Him each step of the way!
