A Call to Deeper Worship

In the sanctuary of God’s presence, hidden in the cleft of the rock, Moses pleaded for a revelation of God’s glory (Ex. 33:18-21).

In the violence of a tempest, trembling on a mountaintop, the psalmist saw into the sanctuary above, and marveled, “In His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’” (Ps. 29:9).

In the sanctuary built by Solomon, the young prophet heard the seraphim calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isa. 6:3).

And when the people of God, prefigured by three angels flying in midheaven—carrying good news about the sanctuary and judgment—begin their proclamation, they announce, “Fear God and give glory to Him” (Rev. 14:7).

The inescapable conclusion of these and many other passages of Scripture is that giving God glory, especially in our worship, is the essential mission of God’s faithful remnant—”those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (verse 12).

This is a resonating call—loud and insistent—to deepen and to strengthen our perceptions of “Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13), to renew Adventist worship with clear teaching and rich experience of God’s magnificence, holiness, and kindness. In a global culture obsessed with cheap familiarity, tweeting its way to careless oblivion, we have the shared tasks of proclaiming God’s amazing “otherness” as well as Jesus’ amazing closeness.

We announce how great the gulf is between the sinner and the Father, but also show the abundance of the Father’s plan in sending Jesus to be one of us. He lived in our sweat and pain; He died for our eternal gain; He rose that we might enjoy great fellowship with Him now and forever.

The call to “give Him glory” must begin with the household of faith, whether we gather in the shadowed heat beneath a palm frond roof or in a gleaming sanctuary, fully lit and air-conditioned. When we have replicated the story young Isaiah tells—when we have glimpsed both the Father’s deep holiness and the Saviour’s deep, forgiving tenderness—then we are ready to wholeheartedly respond as did the prophet long ago: “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8).

The mission—and the message—is all about worship.

As you read this special collection of articles about the central mission of this movement, begin by bowing both your heart and your knees—and give Him glory.