If I See You, I’ll Worship

Matthew 28:
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.

The real danger in our pollution of worship is that those who really need to see Jesus won’t even believe He exists.

People in the world are quick to pick up on a scam.  So when we walk one way and talk another they have already discredited our statements of faith.  You see they’ve had plenty of exposure to fake politicians and fake preachers.  Scandal after scandal has exposed that it’s much more important how you treat me when I don’t have anything you want than how you are when the lights are on and the camera is rolling.

So when it comes to our journey to worship and when it comes to Jesus, we dare not allow tradition or pretense to obscure God’s real son.  Jesus promised that if people could really see Him then they would be moved His direction.

John 12:32 “ And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Jesus was lifted up on a cross so that all the world could see that God is love.  If God had said I love you but not done anything to back it up than most wouldn’t believe.  But God so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to die to pay for the penalty of our sins.  Not only that, but Jesus came and lived before us so we could get a better idea of who God is.  In I John 4:8 we read that “God is love.”  So if we were to really see God as he is we would be overwhelmed with His very nature.  God is LOVE.  Not lust!  He is not infatuation!  He is love!  So the mere essence of God being in our presence would woo us to His side.  And we would never want to leave Him.

This is why satan has worked so hard to confuse us.  He doesn’t want us to realize that God really is the love that we stand in need of.  So he maligns His character.  He accuses God of being harsh.  He says God wants to keep us down.  He told Eve in the garden that God wanted to keep us from being powerful like Him and that’s why he told them to stay away from the forbidden fruit.  And today God stands misrepresented by the myriads of preachers who present Him as a genie in a bottle to get the stuff we wish for in this life.

And by getting us to focus in on ourselves and getting more and more stuff, he succeeds in keeping us from loving others.  He’ll do anything so that we won’t lift up Jesus.

If we could just see Jesus we would worship Him.  But we have the TV on all the time to quiet are pangs of loneliness.  Is it any wonder we can’t hear His Holy Spirit whispering words of love and life to us?  But if we could just take a look at Jesus we would be overwhelmed by his love.  Phil. 2 shares:

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

So Jesus was worshiped in heaven perpetually.  There was nothing He desired that He could not have.  He was the center of attention with His father.  But for some reason He thought it better to leave His throne and all that adoration and come down to earth to be disrespected and misrepresented.  He came to suffer and die after all the abuse to give an ungrateful fallen race an opportunity at redemption.  Oh what manner of love the Father hath given unto us that we should be called the sons of God!  And oh what manner of love that Jesus would become the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.   I’m getting excited right now in my seat!  I feel like doing something to express the overwhelming gratitude in my heart for His sacred and sacrificial gift.

Matthew 28:17 said and when they saw Him they worshipped.  That’s it!  We just need to see Him and everything else will fall into place.

Lord I need your presence everyday.  Lord I want to know you.  Lord I seek your face, for if I see you, I’ll worship!

I invite you today to focus on all the ways God has showed his love to you in the past week.  Write them down.  Then praise Him for them.  Lift up Jesus! Allow your shift of focus to bring awareness to God’s presence.  And if as a result God blesses you with joy in your heart and renewed courage and faith then by all means tell someone else to do what you just did…and don’t forget to share your testimony with us in the comment section below.

Today’s post is sponsored by The Griffiths Family Show