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Worthy to Be Praised

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“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” —Revelation 5:12, NKJV

I am reading Messiah, by Jerry D. Thomas, and the following quote struck me to the core of my heart and soul: “When we finally understand, we will throw our crowns at His feet and sing, ‘ “The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom and strength, honor, glory, and praise!” ’ (Revelation 5:12).”* What a sense of awe this brings toward our Jesus, who went through the wilderness of temptation for you and me.

What a realization that Jesus placed Himself where I should be, yet He did it without sinning or worshiping Satan! He had me on His mind. He had you on His mind. Because He loved us so, He chose to use the words “It is written” during His temptations because His love for His Father and for us was greater than anything Satan had to offer Him (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, NKJV). However, it was a price He felt: “After Satan fled, Jesus fell to the ground exhausted and nearly dead. The angels of heaven had been watching the battle, watching their beloved Commander as He suffered to make a way for humans to escape. He had survived the test greater than any that humans could endure. Now those angels brought Him food and water along with a message of His Father’s love. They assured Him that heaven rang with joy over His victory.”† As I contemplate those scenes in my mind’s eye, I realize that the only hope for us is, like Jesus, to stay connected to our Father and grab hold of Him through our imaginations, through Bible seeking, and through time spent with Him. We must take His hand as He extends it toward you and me. He reaches out to us and says, “I love you. I have saved you. You are Mine. I chose to go to the cross for you. I cannot imagine living through eternity without being close to you.” I choose to grasp His hand, and I invite you to do the same as He brings you into His incredible embrace, where you will find love and safety. Accept the gift of His grace, for He is worthy to be praised!

Mary H. Maxson

* Jerry D. Thomas, Messiah (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press®, 2003), 83.

† Thomas, 83.