Okay I know that envy isn’t good, but I have to tell you that if there is a job opening for one of these guys’ positions, I want my application to be on the top of the stack:
Revelation 4:8 NLT
Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
How amazing would that be? Day after day night after night, to remain in the presence of the Lord worshipping and praising Him workout end.
I mean, seriously! Instead of looking up at the ceiling of my church singing praises to an Almighty God that I cannot see our touch – to be in the very presence of His full glory! To look upon the radiance of His glory and praise Him workout ceasing!
Oh, if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He promises to give us our hearts’ desires. If I am to desire anything, can they’re be a greater desire than to be empowered with the neverending glorification and praise of the Lord God Almighty? Is it blasphemous for me to hope for such a servants’ seat within the house of the Lord? Is it foolish for me to not seek after treasures or rewards or rooms or authority within the heavenly places, but to instead hope only to remain in the presence of the Lord and to lift His praises in an unending chorus for eternity?
Is there a position that witnesses any louder of the great mercies that He has extended to me through His grace, than to wash his feet with the tears of my praises for an eternity?
Oh, that the mercies of my heavenly Father will reach to such depths that my praise might be eternal and never ending!
Oh, that He might accept even my praise. Praise from this broken and humbled and stumbling child, who cries out for His father’s touch. I don’t want the fatted calf killed upon my return, I don’t want a celebration of my return, I don’t even long for the reunion with my brothers and sisters – you see, I just hunger to be in the presence of my father, so that I might lift His praises – just for the opportunity to lift His praises under the power that He will bestow upon me – to worship Him fully and neverending.
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:5 ESV
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Proverbs 16:1-3 ESV
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Am I too bold to desire such heavenly things?
Am I foolish to think that such a redeemed child of God as myself, risen from the dead shell and seed of my former life as a child of rebellion, might be graced with the merciful opportunity to praise my Lord and King and Savior in person for eternity?
I seek and I knock boldly, and if it is pride instead of boldness that feeds this flame of desire to praise and worship my Lord, if it is for my own glory and not for the opportunity to serve and give Him glory, then I should be pitied as great among the great fools.
So prove me, Lord. Show me my new name that is written upon your book, written upon your very hands. Lift my life up as a praise and worship to you, Lord – as an exercise in preparing me for the eternal praise and worship that is ahead. Bring me into your house, abide with me, and I with you, and teach me to sing a new song – teach me the song that only you can sing through my redeemed life, Lord. Lift up your voice through me, else my life is empty if it is not filled with the purpose of your will.
Accept my life, Lord. What can I offer you that is not already yours?
Forgive me, cleanse me, make me yours. Teach me, equip me, use me Lord. Yes, I realize that everything that I am saying is about me, me, me, Lord. Yes, I realize that I am in no position to raise such grand requests at the throne of the Almighty God. But I ask you to search out my heart. Know my love for you, Lord – and if it pales in comparison to the love of another, I am bold enough to ask for another portion, Lord. What is greater than refined silver and gold if it is not love for you and love for others?
Alight your heavenly fires upon the chaff, crush my old heart of stone and soften my heart of flesh, mold me into the reflection of my teacher – for your Holy use and to glorify and honor your name. Make me your servant, Lord.
I am yours. Send me. I will go.
So what do I need on my resume to apply for that job? Whatever it is that I need, Lord, I can only get it from you, so please, poor out your great mercy and favor onto your servant, Lord. Prepare me for whatever purpose you see fit, use me small or use me big, because it is your will that should be done, not mine. But if there is a way, if my cup can run overflowing with the unending waters of a life of praise and worship – fill me. Equip me. Present me built up and polished and sharpened and wise in your ways, not so that men might see anything that remains of me, but so that your light might shine through me in the measure necessary for others to feel your touch and to hunger for your presence, and to fall so deeply in love with you that the stack of applications is like a mountain of those eager to worship you, Lord. But remember my application, be my personal reference, Lord. Mold me as only you can.
Harold J. Ballinger 