The Test of our Christianity

We read this in family worship this morning and I thought it was a really good reminder to start the day. This is a daily reading by William Still in a book called Through the Year With William Still. (emphasis mine)

Revelation 5:7-14
7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen " And the elders fell down and worshiped.

The Lion-Lamb who has 'witnessed' the will of God in His work of redemption and judgement now takes the scroll out of the 'hand' of One on the throne. In humble obedience and yet in sovereign power He has perfectly accomplished the Father's eternal purposes (Heb. 5:7-9).
This is the signal for an outburst of praise and worship: a total massing of all created beings, both angelic and human, to honor the Son in a climax of praise. There are orders of beings who have been given free-will by God, yet have willingly, gladly and spontaneously laid their all at His feet in absolute worship. We should learn from the unfallen angels, as they are said in Ephesians 3:10 to learn from us.
It is given us that we might see the Babe in Bethlehem, the Man of Galilee, the Savior of Calvary, and the Risen One as All-in-all, as He must be to us more and more. This is the test of our Christianity: how holily excited can you become about Jesus who has done all for your salvation to the perfect pleasing of His Father?

May the Lord cause us to be wholly holily excited about His great salvation of such great sinners. "For you are not your own, you were bought at a great price."

Savoring the Mercies of the Savior,

Sarah