“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1Tim. 1:17).
John Wilson rightly said, “People often have misapprehensions of God, his nature, essence, and will.”
God is a most pure and simple being, and would have worship suitable to a pure spirit; but men are apt to think otherwise of him. They are apt to think he is a being clothed with such gross matter as we poor mortals have, that dwell in tabernacles of clay, carry about with us, and that he would have such kind of worship, and accordingly they give it to him, (Psalm 78:41). They limit the holy one of Israel; they measure him by themselves, his properties by theirs, and his will by theirs, and think what pleases them, pleases him. “Thou thoughest (says God) that I was altogether such an one as thy self,” (Psalm 50:21). Now this is a most unreasonable and unjustifiable thing; for what proportion is there between that which is infinite, and that which is finite; between a most spiritual and simple being, and a soul attended with impotent and carnal passions, and clothed with gross and sinful matter, still drawing it to objects and pleasures suitable to itself? None at all. Isa 55:8-9, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
If the thoughts and ways of a man are so far above the thoughts and ways of a beast, which yet is his fellow creature, made of the same elements with him, how far must the thoughts and ways of God necessarily be above the thoughts and ways of man? How “high” are your thoughts about God? How infinitely small are they in relation to his majestic being?
We must not measure the nature and will of God by ours (that is an unsafe way) but by what he has revealed of himself in his word, in which, he has made known both his nature and will to us, and set down what he will have us to do. And, therefore, since he has in this declared he will be worshipped in spirit, we must without consulting with flesh and blood worship him that way in order to adore him rightly. John Wilson, The Holy Simplicity of Worship.
Contemplation:
Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Your promises, called by Your Spirit, I enter Your presence, worshipping You with godly fear, awed by Your majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Your love.Help increase my thoughts about you to rise higher and higher.
I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay You, but I bring Jesus to You in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy Your justice. I bless You that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Your mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Your goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give You no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to You, and ever clings to the cross.
