I’ve always been partial to Baroque music, and one of my favorite composers is G.F. Handel. Messiah is a masterpiece. With the exception of when I was on my mission, I have performed it in one form or another every year since I was sixteen years old. Last year, my cats were the only ones who observed my performance, due to covid restrictions.

The climax of the oratorio is the penultimate chorus, Worthy Is the Lamb. It is drawn from Revelation 5, where it is described that at the second coming of Jesus, all will declare Him worthy.

God is love. Worthy is the Lamb. This is a touchstone I come back to whenever someone purports to act in God’s name. Are those actions loving? Are those actions worthy of honor and praise? If not, then they are not God’s actions. If a policy paints God as a jerk, that policy did not come from God, no matter who implements it. But if a policy increases love, it does come from God.

When we recognize Christ’s worthiness, we will be better able to evaluate our own. And Christ shares His worthiness with us through His grace. Just as He is worthy to receive blessing, honor, and glory, so will we be if we become like Him.