Jesus is Worthy

I'm not a "favourite colour" kind of person, but I do have a favourite sermon that stands tall above all the rest:  Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.  He masterfully employed a passage from Judges to illustrate how humanism can creep into Christianity, suggesting God exists for the happiness of man when the reality is we exist for God's glory.

Paris Reidhead made a powerful point concerning Christ's worthiness:  "Lord Jesus, I'm going to obey you, and love you, and serve you, and do what you want me to do, as long as I live even if I go to Hell at the end of the road, simply because you are worthy to be loved, and obeyed, and served and I 'm not trying to make a deal with you!"  This well encapsulates the heart of a humble believer who understands the privilege of being saved, forgiven, chosen and blessed to have a relationship with the living God.

I remember years ago at a camp I asked a cabin leader and his group:  "Would you follow and obey Jesus even if you went to hell because He is worthy?"  These guys looked at me with something akin to shock.  If the youths were anything like me, I first came to Jesus as a child primarily due to what I stood to receive:  His love, forgiveness and salvation from hell.  It was a wonderful offer!  But what I came to realise is what Paris Reidhead preached from the heart, that our motivation for serving and following Jesus is based on all God has done--and He is worthy!

This is the joyful cry of those in the presence of God in John's vision in Revelation 5:11-12:  "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"  Jesus is worthy to be praised and honoured--first for who He is, and also for all He has done, does and will do.  When we catch a glimpse of the glory of our wondrous Saviour, yes, He is worthy to be loved and served even if us going to hell was guaranteed.  For those who have tasted and seen He is good, life would be hell without Him.