Who Is Worthy?
Open Your Bible
Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 29:1-24, Revelation 5:1-14
BY Rebecca Faires
Text: Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 29:1-24, Revelation 5:1-14
“We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”
Yeah, I was a kid in the 90s. Anybody else remember imitating Wayne and Garth to declare your unworthiness over things like Nintendo skills, Lisa Frank sticker collections, or Air Jordans? My assessment of worthiness is different now, but I’m still inclined to assess things by my arbitrary categories of value. I am not immune to questioning my own worthiness in the face of a really lovely turn of phrase or a well-managed garden.
But is my worthiness the relevant question? It surely seems to be the contemporary question, one Paul clearly answered for us in Romans, long before we ever started trying to compete for Instagram likes.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
– Romans 3:23
It’s almost a relief, really; the playing field is leveled and we have all fallen short. And it answers the question of human worthiness: Which of us is worthy? Not a one.
So what are the qualifications for worthiness? God’s people were waiting for someone who was worthy. And their list of qualifications was far more than a wink and a well-executed somersault.
He was to be both the root and the stem of David (Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:30-32). He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:27-28, 31) and God’s Spirit would rest on Him (Isaiah 11:2, Mark 1:10). He would be both the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5) and the Lamb who would be slain (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24).
All that, and yet the list was still completely simple: He had to be the Son of God (Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 2:6-7). He alone is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, worthy to bring salvation and bring justice (Revelation 5:1-14).
But His worthiness doesn’t end there. He is to receive all the riches of heaven and earth—all material things, all praise, all everything belongs to Him alone. Suddenly the complicated question becomes simple again.
Dutch journalist, statesman, and theologian Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’” That about says it all. Christ is worthy, and all honor is due to Him.
This simplifies my plaguing difficulties in wondering where I sit in the pecking order. It eliminates the question of “who deserves this more?” And frankly, it resolves my need to be celebrated by the world. When I turn my eyes from myself and point my compass to the True North, Christ Himself, I cease scrambling for a place at the table because I find myself at rest, pointing to the One who is truly worthy.
Because of Christ, we can join with the angels and the archangels and the whole company of heaven and sing a new song:
You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because You were slaughtered,
and You redeemed people
for God by Your blood
from every tribe and language
and people and nation.
You made them a kingdom
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
—Revelation 5:9-10
61 thoughts on "Who Is Worthy?"
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In a culture that loves a good “You are worthy! You are enough!” slogan, this is a great reminder that the only worthy one is Jesus.
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We all stumble. Overtime these laws and rituals of faith have little by little trapped the people to follow a false god. Isaiah did not fall into this trap, he could still hear the Lord talking to him, unlike the others.
This can be true today. This is my take away: We must make time to stop and call out to God in prayer multiple times a day and not just solely follow our pastor, who like all of us, is not worthy. Our relationship with God is a 2 Way St. -
Listening is hard for me, I often get stuck on something someone said 5 mins ago, why did they say that? What does it mean ? Are they ok ? And how can I help ?
All of this plays into this habit of wanting to fix things. Ultimately, I am not God, I am a child of God and what he is asking me to do is listen, listen carefully and then obey, do what he has asked…. not by my own ability or by some preconceived notion that what I do will save me and make me whole but by the fact that because he has saved me, I have the chance, I have the privilege to not only sing but be praise to the one living God! Living under his glorious Grace… dancing between the tension of living on earth but wanting to live as it is in heaven. He is and alway will be worthy.Thank you Abba for not allowing me to be complacent or idle in finding my worth in all the wrong things.
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Well said!
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Oh, I just loved reading this devotional! Definitely the reminder I needed for the start of my week that when I turn my compass to the True North, God, my salvation is found and I need not look for my worthiness any longer. Christ’s death on the cross made me worthy. Such a beautiful devotional, thank you!
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Isaiah 29:11-12 really stood out to me as I was reading:
“For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” 12 Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”
Such a sad portion of scripture. But it makes me realize how easily we can make excuses in our walk with the Lord. I made excuses for years and was pretty much a perfect example of verse 13. So thankful for God’s love and patience during those years as He opened my eyes to the truth – that He desires my devotion to HIM and not to rules, routines, and religious rituals.
But even now that I have a relationship with my Savior, I have to remember that I am still capable of making excuses. Praying that God will help me to become more aware of this sin so that I can continue to walk in obedience.
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Thank you for posting this–it really helped me understand it so much more
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This is really relevant today. Today is my birthday and I’ve been looking to friends and families for justification, praises and love and I have found myself instead, sad angry and with expectations unmet. I think this really stems from my selfishness and self centered attitude. Looking at His glory is going to be hard for me today, when this is the one day that people tend to justify being celebrated. But maybe it’s good that I get no celebration at all, and instead celebrate the one who made me, who knit me together in my mothers womb and all that He’s done for me since then. I feel like that’ll put my mind at peace. Thanks for this post
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Happy birthday! Hugs and appreciation for your post. Praying you realize how much God loves you and that you are forever and always His beloved!
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Happy Birthday, Melody!! May you focus on the fact that, like your name winks at, our Lord rejoices over you with SINGING! (Zephaniah 3:17)
Many Blessings to you today and great peace, knowing and feeling how loved you truly are!
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Happy birthday Melody! I can relate to those feelings… and the quote in today’s devotion hit me in that area so strongly … “there is nothing in the human domain that God does not cry “MINE”! ” what a beautiful reality! He cries “MINE” over YOU (and me et al) today and every day!!! Hope your day was beautiful!
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We are born sinners.. and so much of our sins root is the sin of self centeredness.. but what about ME?! Am I worthy? Am I great?? The two disciples fought over who was going to be the greatest.. self centeredness even spills over into sacred Christianity.. I truly wish I focused so much more on the magnificence of God.. the unwavering love He showed us on Calvary.. there is too much of me in my focus.. who do You think I am, who do people think I am.. instead of standing in awe of the great I AM I’m busy contemplating the I as in me.. I do believe many of our woes would be undone if we gazed much longer in the face of God and far less in the mirrors.. loved today’s reading.. loved being reminded of HIM and His GREATNESS.. be blessed in His love girls! Xo
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