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If you went to church every Sunday and sang the same 3 or 4 songs, how would you respond to that?

That is probably not happening in most places, though I suppose it is possible—maybe the piano player only knows 3 songs or some such circumstance. I have certainly been in some very small churches where this could happen.

But most of us much prefer variety. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with that. As we gather to approach the throne of God in corporate worship, I find (biblically speaking) very few limitations as to how our expressions of praise should sound. There is, I believe, a great deal of freedom in our worship.

It’s interesting to me that, in the two explicit moments recorded in Scripture describing the presence of God on His throne, we see the same words repeated over and over and over. It seems there may be some variety in between these statements, but in Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah chapter 6) and in John’s vision (Revelation 4), the refrain seems endlessly fixed upon this phrase, “holy, holy, holy!”

The exclamation of these angelic creatures seems to my human ear simply redundant. But is that really possible?

In a concert I attended over the weekend, I was struck by a question that grabbed my attention. The artist on stage, Sean Curran, asked (approximately), “What if this was not at all redundant, but rather was a perpetual sense of discovery of the greatness of God?”

The song he was leading into is called, “Another Glimpse.” I had not heard it before, but this chorus really stirred me: 

With every lap around the throne
I catch another glimpse
You're Holy, Holy, so Holy
The longer I behold You
I can't help but say again
You're Holy, Holy, so Holy

I know that what God has in store for us is so much more than the simple perpetual worship service idea that I’ve heard so many times. The new heaven and earth we read about in Revelation 21 points at such a deeper reality.

I have spent some time reflecting upon this statement in the book of Ephesians where Paul explains God’s desire in saving us:

“so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2.7

It seems like this is teaching us that we will forever be experiencing new dimensions of His grace. Imagine it… a new world, created in utter perfection just like the original, but this time it will be entirely incorruptible. And in this perfect world-to-be, we will perpetually be exploring and unfolding and discovering more of His grace.

There where God dwells with us and we with Him, we will always be in awe of God and His holiness and matchless grace… like those creatures that John described:

“…and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!’”

Revelation 4.8

So maybe it’s time we develop the habit of pausing to wonder at the grace of God in everyday ways, to take notice of the greatness of His character, to acknowledge His holiness. For a follower of Jesus, it seems like it will be an everlasting occupation. Why not look ahead?

I encourage you to pause and listen to this beautiful concept described in this worshipful song: Another Glimpse. (This video features the lyrics – which, of course, I want you to see – but they are in Spanish with English subtitles. It’s not ideal, but it is what I could find!)

Father, open our eyes to see again and again and again and again the glimpses of Your glory all around us!

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If you enjoy these musical devotional posts, let me know in the comments and feel free to suggest a song that speaks to you in a significant way.