For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is a physical law. Unless God interrupts this natural conservation of energy--observable throughout the visible universe--it continues just the way God designed it to continue. One domino falls into another domino that falls into another domino ... and even when those fallen dominoes lay down flat on the table under gravity's pull, the table still reacts equally and oppositely to hold up the dominoes. (It is about this time that I wish I had paid more attention in Dr. Stachan's 11th grade physics class.)
But some of that energy in any physical action is converted into an unusable form; it is still there, but "trapped" in a place that cannot be retrieved (by us). So there is always a small subtraction. The pendulum swings but not quite as far as the last time. The ball bounces but not quite as high as the last time. The energy is still there--equally and oppositely reacting--but some is lost to friction or whatever else until that pendulum and that ball eventually "subtract" down to zero movement held still in the pull of gravity. (It is about this time that true physicists will want to sit me down and teach me all that I am missing about this in the fascinating world of physics).
Ah yes, but here is the majestic leap from the physical world into the supernatural realm of worship. Worship of the living God actually amplifies when we give it away. For every act of God revealing His glory to humans, there is a greater and amplified response (not merely a reaction!) of glorifying the God of glory in worship. Okay, I admit that the language isn't as precise as Newtonian physics, but the principle is certainly in the Scripture.
I see this supernatural amplification of glory in several places. To Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 and 22, God reveals His glory to a singular individual--He blesses Abraham, which starts a chain response (not a mere chain reaction!) that amplifies the blessing to every nation. God reveals His glory to one. That one shares the glory revealed by God to him to others. And over time all the nations will glorify the God who first revealed His glory to the individual Abraham. Over time the pendulum and the bouncing ball return to a state of rest. Over time the glory of God will amplify and expand and will result in all the nations of the world giving glory to God in worship.
This principle of amplification shows up exceptionally well in Psalm 96. "Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples" (vs. 3). God reveals His glory to some (namely Israel) who are then commissioned to declare that glory revealed to them by God to the nations (which is functionally the Great Commission of the Old Testament, compare Matthew 28:19-20!). The result is not less glory, but more! "Ascribe to the LORD, oh families of the peoples; ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the LORD in holy attire. Tremble before Him all the earth" (Psalm 96:7-9).
The principle of amplification screams from John 17 as well. Jesus in prayer says, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You" (vs. 1). Glory given away is not glory lost; it is glory that takes root, so to speak, and produces a crop of a hundredfold. And Jesus inside the same prayer says, "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them (the disciples), that they may be one, just as We are one .... Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see the glory which You have given Me (vv. 22,24). God the Father gives glory to Jesus who gives it back to the Father amplified; increased. But while that inner-Trinitarian worship cycles, Jesus also shares that glory given to Him with the disciples (and their disciples and their disciples, etc.) for the expressed purpose of sharing in the glory of Jesus amplified in number; increased in worship over time.
We are blessed in order that we might bless God back in worship and bless others so that more and more blessing might return to the Lord who blesses. God reveals glory to us in order that we might glorify God back in worship and declare that glory to others so that more and more glorification might return to the Lord of glory. Jesus asks for more glory in order that He might glorify the Father all the more, and share that glory with His followers so that in the end of time every nation will join in the glorification of God with exponential amplification.
May the cycle of amplification of God's glory not be interrupted with me; with us. May the amplification increase and expand in and through us to the glory of the One who alone is worthy.
But some of that energy in any physical action is converted into an unusable form; it is still there, but "trapped" in a place that cannot be retrieved (by us). So there is always a small subtraction. The pendulum swings but not quite as far as the last time. The ball bounces but not quite as high as the last time. The energy is still there--equally and oppositely reacting--but some is lost to friction or whatever else until that pendulum and that ball eventually "subtract" down to zero movement held still in the pull of gravity. (It is about this time that true physicists will want to sit me down and teach me all that I am missing about this in the fascinating world of physics).
Ah yes, but here is the majestic leap from the physical world into the supernatural realm of worship. Worship of the living God actually amplifies when we give it away. For every act of God revealing His glory to humans, there is a greater and amplified response (not merely a reaction!) of glorifying the God of glory in worship. Okay, I admit that the language isn't as precise as Newtonian physics, but the principle is certainly in the Scripture.
I see this supernatural amplification of glory in several places. To Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 and 22, God reveals His glory to a singular individual--He blesses Abraham, which starts a chain response (not a mere chain reaction!) that amplifies the blessing to every nation. God reveals His glory to one. That one shares the glory revealed by God to him to others. And over time all the nations will glorify the God who first revealed His glory to the individual Abraham. Over time the pendulum and the bouncing ball return to a state of rest. Over time the glory of God will amplify and expand and will result in all the nations of the world giving glory to God in worship.
This principle of amplification shows up exceptionally well in Psalm 96. "Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples" (vs. 3). God reveals His glory to some (namely Israel) who are then commissioned to declare that glory revealed to them by God to the nations (which is functionally the Great Commission of the Old Testament, compare Matthew 28:19-20!). The result is not less glory, but more! "Ascribe to the LORD, oh families of the peoples; ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the LORD in holy attire. Tremble before Him all the earth" (Psalm 96:7-9).
The principle of amplification screams from John 17 as well. Jesus in prayer says, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You" (vs. 1). Glory given away is not glory lost; it is glory that takes root, so to speak, and produces a crop of a hundredfold. And Jesus inside the same prayer says, "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them (the disciples), that they may be one, just as We are one .... Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see the glory which You have given Me (vv. 22,24). God the Father gives glory to Jesus who gives it back to the Father amplified; increased. But while that inner-Trinitarian worship cycles, Jesus also shares that glory given to Him with the disciples (and their disciples and their disciples, etc.) for the expressed purpose of sharing in the glory of Jesus amplified in number; increased in worship over time.
We are blessed in order that we might bless God back in worship and bless others so that more and more blessing might return to the Lord who blesses. God reveals glory to us in order that we might glorify God back in worship and declare that glory to others so that more and more glorification might return to the Lord of glory. Jesus asks for more glory in order that He might glorify the Father all the more, and share that glory with His followers so that in the end of time every nation will join in the glorification of God with exponential amplification.
May the cycle of amplification of God's glory not be interrupted with me; with us. May the amplification increase and expand in and through us to the glory of the One who alone is worthy.
