All thanksgiving ultimately leads to adoration of God (2 Cor 4:15). When we stand before him and discover what he is like, we cannot but adore him. That’s what the angels do as they surround him and serve him in heaven (Rev 4:11; 5:12; 7:11-12). They sing: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8). As they stand before him and see the glory of his Son, they sing: “Glory” (Ps 29:9; Rev 5:13). Ever since the incarnation of our Lord they invite us to stand with them before God the Father in the divine service and join with them in giving glory to him (Luke 2:13). Our adoration of God therefore gives us a foretaste of heaven. As we adore the triune God we begin to do on earth what we will do forever in heaven; we begin to enjoy our God who is so good and great that we never come to the end of our enjoyment of him.
John W Kleinig, "What's the Use of Praising God?" Lutheran Theological Journal 38/2 (2004)
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