I GLADLY BOW MY KNEE Let us accept the truth that sometimes, attempt to worship God can be an enormous task. Even if everything seems alright with us, ‘inertia’ exists in our pursuit of God. After all, who has ever seen God or is certain He exists? We wish it away on a Sunday morning with noisy singing, lifting up of our hands, sprawling on the floor or dancing with vigor. We try to satisfy ourselves and other worshipers that we are ‘in the spirit’, but hardly will the frenzy die down before we sink back into our mold of religion. Thank God for the power of hymns written by saints of old: this draws many (even atheists) to church and serves as a panacea for our lack of spontaneity in expressing ourselves to God; but suddenly, the hymns are over, and we are walking out of the church service unable to sustain the tempo. Music is a language of the spirit-man, helping us to communicate with God, but how often has it failed us! At such points, we blamed the singer, instrumentalist or the methodology. Beyond the sound of music, thunderous prayers and fiery sermons, there is a sound of God’s loving voice that draws us near. Isaiah heard this voice and saw God’s glory, and he could not stand anymore (Isaiah 6:1-8). What he saw disarmed him. Before then, he was armed with a ‘prophetic’ ministry, fame in Israel, the covering of king Uzziah, and a personal understanding of mysteries. But in the year Uzziah died, he saw ‘another king’, THE LORD, whose ‘throne is HIGH AND LIFTED UP, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims…And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory’ (Isaia6:1, 3). His response to God in worship was spontaneous. He quickly acknowledged his sinfulness (unclean lips), and an angel touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar to cleanse him. From then, his act of worship was not made of sermons, songs, hymns or ‘powerful prayers’; it composed of surrender, repentance from sins, consecration to service. He came to his knees. I am sure my friend, Noel Richards saw nothing less when he exclaimed in his song: ‘All heaven declares the glory of the risen one Who can compare with the beauty of the Lord? Forever He will be (Forever He will be) The Lamb upon the throne (The Lamb upon the throne) I gladly bow the knee (I gladly bow the knee) And worship Him alone I will proclaim the glory of the risen Lord Who once was slain to reconcile man to God Forever You will be (Forever You will be) The Lamb upon the throne (The Lamb upon the throne) I gladly bow my knee (I gladly bow my knee) And worship You alone’ Bowing to God must not be out of coercion. Once we need some form of motivation by the pastor or song leader, or a special ‘methodology’ for us to begin to pray or lovingly sing to God, then, we need an ‘Isaiah experience’. God must conquer us for us to surrender to him. Our sins, pride, self esteem and ‘spirituality’ must be conquered. But even when these happen, we need to bow to him lovingly and gladly. Isaiah may have bowed in fear, but here we are with a better covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ that speaks peace instead of condemnation. Here we are presented before the King of glory who took our shame on the cross as He died for our sins. He holds the key to life and death and yet He is willing to share His glory with anyone who believes in Him. No matter the glory and splendor this world affords, they cannot be compared with the beauty of the Lord. Friend, without your permission, the world system through sickness, disappointment, death, failures and human dictators, will subject you to pain and humiliation. But here is the King who remembers your name, asking you to willingly bow, not for Him to ‘lord it’ over you, but for you to be lifted with Him. May your eyes be opened to see Him in His glory, and your ears unstopped to hear his voice, so that you will gladly bow your knee to worship Him alone. TENDER VOICE PUBLICATIONS ‘… a divine alluring’ –Hosea 2:14b - October, 2013
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:41:15 +0000
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