“Measuring Up” (Ready to Worship S13E8)

April 9, 2021

Host: Wade Webster | Released Friday, April 9, 2021

This season on Ready to Worship we are examining what John saw and said about worship in the book of Revelation. Our study this week will be taken from the first verse of the eleventh chapter: “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.”

John was given a measuring rod and told to measure three things – the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. Our focus will be on the third of the three things measured – the worshippers.

As you know, the book of Revelation is highly figurative. The measuring rod or reed represents the word of God. It is the rule by which we walk and worship (Phil. 3:16). It is the standard by which we will one day be judged (John 12:48). The bigger mystery in the text is determining what about the worshippers is to be measured. I am convinced that it is the heart. As you know, God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). He looks for those after his own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). In the book of Proverbs, Solomon spoke extensively about God examining, measuring, and weighing the heart. Consider a few verses:

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good…Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men” (Prov. 15:3, 11).
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts” (Prov. 17:3).
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts” (Prov. 21:2).
“If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Prov. 24:12; Dan. 5:27).

These verses reveal that God sees, tests, and weighs our hearts. You might say that He measures them. He stretches his measuring rod across our hearts to determine the height , width, and depth of our love and devotion. He wants us to worship Him with the whole heart. He will accept nothing less (2 Chron. 16:9). May we say with David: “I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation” (Psa. 111:1; cf. 9:1; 138:1).

As we get ready to worship this week let’s remember that we are being weighed and measured by God. Let’s make sure that we don’t come up short.