Worship is an expression of God’s worth. A passage in the book of Revelation gives four broad reasons He is worthy. They focus on who He is and what He does. The first reason is His nature:

The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Rev. 4:8-9)

The four creatures worshiped God for His utter holiness. The word “holy” means He is “set apart” from creation in every way; not aloof, but supreme in splendor and purity. God not only exists in the present but also from before the beginning and past the terminus of time. That’s hard to grasp but, by nature, God is always beyond our comprehension; if we completely understood Him He would not be worthy of worship.

The four creatures are an example to us. Sometimes our worship consists of life’s left-overs: time, money, and energy scraped together. The creatures value God so highly that their worship is unceasing.

Twenty-four elders echo their praises and point to a second reason to worship God:

When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Rev. 4:9-11)

God is worthy of worship because, as Creator, He brought all things into existence by a simple act of His will.

The elders too, model worship. They bow low before God in honor and submission. They cast down their crowns, which represent their highest qualities and achievements. God is worthy of our very best, but He wants everything we are laid before Him—crowns and crutches, diadems and disasters. God never rejects a humble, honest worshiper. And even the weakest of us have abilities and achievements that enhance our worship when they are laid before Him. Jesus is our best model of sacrificial worship, He surrendered everything to God. His sacrifice gives two more reasons He is worthy.

I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 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. 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.” You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. (Rev 5:6-10)

Jesus, the Lamb of God, is worthy of worship because He died to ransom sinful humans like you and I. In doing so, He gave us a new identity and a new destiny in Him. We receive God’s blessing and protection as subjects of His kingdom. Now we are rulers and priests, learning to reign in righteousness and justice.

Try using the passage as a framework for your own worship:

• Worship God for who He is.
• Worship Him as Creator and for what He continues to do.
• Worship the Lord for the blessings of redemption.
• Worship Him for our new identity and exciting destiny.