Worthy of our Praise?

I was involved in some aerobic exercise a while ago when I had a random thought which went something like,

“Why is God worthy of our worship? What is there about Him which causes Him to think He is something special? Why does He feel we owe Him adoration?”

Funny, a few minutes later as I was listening to a “Night Sounds” radio broadcast, the host, Bill Pearce, quoted a scripture verse related to God’s expectation of you and I to,

… “Not to think of yourselves more highly than you ought.”

And yet, my natural inclination upon hearing these words was,

… “But yet, You, God think pretty highly of Yourself.”

The entire scenario seems like a paradox. We are to humble ourselves, and yet God has a right to exalt Himself, and desires exaltation from the inhabitants of the earth.

But in the midst of these considerations a particular book of scripture, and a couple of verses from a particular chapter of that book comes to mind.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  (Hebrews 1:1-2)

 

And it occurs to me that the creature is subject to the Creator, and His desire that we afford Him dignity and honor and respect and praise is based on the superiority of His role and person, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the sort of pride that we, as human beings, are prone to exhibit.

It seems to me it’s one of those “it is what it is” sort of things.

Our Heavenly Father, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, He Who was from the beginning, without father or mother, without beginning or end is simply worthy of all the praise and esteem we can afford Him.

The following psalm expresses the concept better than I ever could.

 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

² Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

³ Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100)

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 9