Parent Resource Page Devo -- Rev. 5.13

BI: We worship Jesus because He is hope and fulfillment for the brokenness in the world.

Have you ever had buyer’s remorse? That hopeless feeling that what you’ve invested in is not worth what you originally thought. I experienced this when we were in need of a car and quickly found a used car that looked brand new! And it had everything…and more. Leather seats, custom sound system, and sport mode for when you want to go just a bit faster. About a week after purchasing it, the check engine light came on, and after waiting a few weeks for the auto shop to tell us what was wrong, we found out that there was corrosion in the engine that was unfixable. It needed an entire new engine, which would have cost about the same amount we paid for the car itself. We were broken because both us and the salesmen had deemed this car more valuable than what it was actually worth.

The Apostle John in the book of Revelation witnessed a scene where he was confronted with hopelessness as no one was found worthy to fulfill the brokenness found in the world.

‌In Revelation chapter 4, John through the Holy Spirit is welcomed into the throne room of God. The question is asked, “Who is worthy to open the scroll held by the Father?” In Revelation 5.4-5, he weeps in hopelessness, yet he is told, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Jesus, the risen and conquering Lion of Judah is proclaimed worthy as He has conquered death. Then in response to Jesus, the worthy Lamb of God, the elders and living creatures and then multitudes of angels declare, “WORTHY!” After their initial proclamation, we see this in our memory verse for the month: Revelation. 5.13 says, “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””

The point of this chapter is not just to introduce us to a seven-sealed scroll or cause us to ponder why no one on earth is worthy to open it. The point is the last seven verses of the chapter which are all dedicated to the worship of Jesus, the only One who is worthy. Unlike my car which failed and left us without fulfillment, He is fully faithful and true, and we know that just as we see the angels, elders, and living creatures doing, worship is ascribing worth to God, to Jesus, for who He is and what He has done. Worship is ascribing worth to God for who He is and what He has done. The big idea of this chapter is that we worship Jesus because He is hope and fulfillment for the broken world. We worship Jesus, who alone is worthy.

How do you worship Jesus together as a family? A few ideas for you are to sing and dance to worship music together, break down your favorite worship songs and how they describe Jesus, or read Psalms and other scriptures together that praise God. As you work through this verse, Revelation 5.13, with your kids this week, remind them that the reason we worship Jesus is not just because He is A worthy person to receive worship; He is THE only worthy person to receive worship.