"Is He Worthy?" was released in 2018, but it is newer than that for me. Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive wrote this powerful song that grips me every time I hear it or sing it. Take a few moments and click on this YouTube link right now to listen to Chris Tomlin's recording and read the words.
I heard this sung a few weeks ago by a children's choir from Africa. Their attempts to pronounce all of those words in English and their passion-filled faces stirred my soul. The very next Sunday our choir at First Baptist in Decatur joined our Discipleship Pastor Jesse Pawley in singing a different arrangement. I didn't even realize my eyes were leaking until halfway through, but somehow I was able to keep singing.
Look at the refrain --
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave From every people and tribe Every nation and tongue He has made us a kingdom and priests to God To reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this?
He is!
JESUS. Jesus is worthy. Let that sink into your heart today. Let that bring you comfort, assurance, peace. Let that prepare you for worship this coming Sunday.
Acts 4:10-12 (NASB) - "Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”