The prayers of God’s people
by Tatiana Overduin
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Worthy is the Lamb … praise and honour and glory and power, forever and ever (Revelation 5:12,13)!
Read Revelation 5:6–14
The Lamb of God, at the centre of the throne of God, surrounded by the four living creatures, and the elders, representatives chosen by God, holding bowls of incense filled with the prayers of God’s people. What an extraordinary picture these holy words paint for us today!
And we hear that these chosen ambassadors sang a new song: for Jesus makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). The lyrics of this ‘new song’ voice the sacrifice of the Lamb, he who is worthy because of his blood shed for us – his people! These lyrics include something about us too: ‘… persons of every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God …’ (verses 9 and 10). We, too, are ambassadors in relationship with, and serving, our Triune God.
Our prayers are acknowledged here. They are collected and held like incense rising to God. A holy stockpile – have you ever considered this? God hears our prayers; God listens to the person who does his will (John 9:31). Our prayers are, therefore, not pointless. What do we pray for then? In our church community, our prayers come together to rise as incense to his holy throne. And what of our personal prayers? Let us not ignore their value and importance to God, who is pleased by them (Proverbs 15:8).
We have been given biblical instruction to pray for all people: ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people … this is good and pleases our God and Saviour’ (1 Timothy 2:1,3).
So may we offer our prayers, and together with the angels, a multitude of angels, who already encircle the throne of God, and who worship in a loud voice, together with them proclaim ‘… honour and glory and praise to the Lamb who was slain … forever and ever … Amen’ (verses 12 to 14).
O holy God, we stand in awe and humility before you, as you reveal such wondrous things to us through your holy word. May the prayers that we offer be pleasing in your sight. We pray that our eyes be opened to your majesty. Lord, help us to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth; He who is the holy Lamb of God. In your holy name we humbly pray. Amen.
Tatiana is married to Jim, and they live in Largs North, a seaside location in Adelaide. They have two adult children and six grandchildren, who are a wonderful blessing to them both. Tatiana teaches full-time as an English, History and Religion teacher; she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Australian Lutheran College in 1996 and, in her spare time, she enjoys knitting, gardening, singing for church, writing and swimming. Her home congregation is Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.
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