1. Adoration

The first side of the square is adoration.

Adoration is the movement of the soul toward God in wonder, reverence, and praise. It is not produced by duty. It is not manufactured by effort. It arises when the eye of faith has beheld something of the glory of God.

The psalmist calls us to it. "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" (Psalm 95:1-2). This is not grim obligation. This is joy. The overflow of a heart that has seen something beautiful.

Isaiah's vision of God's throne is the paradigm of adoration.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:1-3)

Notice the response of the seraphim. They do not stand proud or casual. They cover their faces. They cover their feet. They cry out the holiness of the Lord. They are overwhelmed by the presence of One so glorious they cannot bear to look.

Adoration begins with beholding. You cannot praise what you do not see.

The Christian life is a progressive revelation of the glory of Christ. When you read the Gospels, you are beholding Jesus. When you remember His works and promises in prayer, you are beholding Him. When you gather with the church and hear His Word preached, you are beholding Him. And as you behold, something happens. Paul writes, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Beholding leads to transformation.

This is why the Psalms are filled with invitations to behold. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." "Seek his face always." "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord" (Psalm 27:4).

The Christian life is not primarily about doing things for God or achieving moral perfection. It is about looking at God. Training your eyes to see Him in His Word, in creation, in His works, in His character.

When you truly behold the glory of God, praise becomes inevitable. You do not manufacture it. It rises from the depths of your being like spring water. Adoration is not self-centered. It redirects all attention away from yourself and onto the glory of God.

It is the answer of the creature, "You are God and I am not."