Who is like our God? This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

— Praise God with Me: (1)
God, in chorus with the most magnificent creatures, we declare
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was, and is, and it to come.”
With the greatest of mankind, we proclaim
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power.
For you have created all things, and by your will they have existed and were created.”
Be glorified in our study this morning!

— Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: Revelation 4 and 5 provide a scene of on-going worship around the throne of heaven. (Sorry for the long read, but the chapters are relatively short.) Keep in mind that Revelation is apocalyptic literature filled with images and symbols. In today’s reading, Jesus – the Lion of Judah – is depicted as the Lamb who has been slain. Don’t get lost in the number 7. That number plays a major literary role in the letter. Just pay attention to how this worship service unfolds. Notice where Jesus is and consider where we will be in the congregation. Finally, notice what the text says about the work of humanity.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
Revelation 4 and 5

— Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

— With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
Lord Jesus, this text says you were slain, and by your blood you have ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Oh Lord, let that include us, and let us never forget who we are called to represent. Let us represent you faithfully.

— Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The shepherds of the Alps have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing an evening farewell to one another. The air is so pure that the songs can be heard for very long distances. As the sun begins to set, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths while they sing, “thus far has the Lord helped us. Let us praise his name.” Finally, as is their beautiful custom, they sing to one another the courteous and friendly farewell “Goodnight! Goodnight!” The words then begin to echo from mountainside to mountainside, reverberating sweetly and softly until the music fades into the distance.
Let us all call out to one another through the darkness until the night becomes alive with the sound of many voices, encouraging God’s weary travelers. And may the echoes grow into a storm of hallelujahs that will break in thundering waves around His sapphire throne. Then as the morning dawns, we will find ourselves on the shore of the “sea of glass” (rev 4:6) crying out with the redeemed hosts of heaven, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever, and ever!” (Rev 5:13). “This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.” “And again they shouted “Hallelujah!” (Rev 5:13)

— Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
To receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!
To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!
Amen!

Sources:
(1) From Revelation 4:8 and 4:11
(2) From Revelation 5:9-10
(3) From Streams in the Desert by LB Cowman, published in 1925
(4) From Revelation 5:12 and 5:13