Devotionals for March 22, 2024
Join us this Sunday at 9:00am & 10:45am!
READ
Revelation 5:8-10
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
REFLECT
I spoke with a man once who told me, “Listen, I’m not against anybody, but I prefer to hang around my people. Is that a crime?” This was in response to a conversation on diversity in society and whether it is important. Many hold these sentiments. In a sense, it is natural, we are tribalistic by nature. We are comfortable with those people with whom we are most familiar. However, there is something dangerous about legalistically maintaining this viewpoint throughout life.
The church is to be the unified people of God on earth, proclaiming the Kingdom come to all, and obeying the commands of God. But a church is not only unified by a statement of faith. The New Testament writers emphasize the significance of a multi-ethnic church. To regard flippantly the tribes, languages, and nations that worship the Lord alongside you is to work against the Kingdom's vision. They are sacred. They are “a Kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.” The Kingdom will not erase cultural differences, it will magnify them to the glory of God. There is something good about opening our hearts and minds to other cultures and their styles of Christian worship. The Kingdom will be an offense to the ethnocentric.
The church is to be the unified people of God on earth, proclaiming the Kingdom come to all, and obeying the commands of God. But a church is not only unified by a statement of faith. The New Testament writers emphasize the significance of a multi-ethnic church. To regard flippantly the tribes, languages, and nations that worship the Lord alongside you is to work against the Kingdom's vision. They are sacred. They are “a Kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.” The Kingdom will not erase cultural differences, it will magnify them to the glory of God. There is something good about opening our hearts and minds to other cultures and their styles of Christian worship. The Kingdom will be an offense to the ethnocentric.
APPLY
Q: What is the central point of these verses?
Q: How can you worship in a way resembling this passage?
Q: How can you influence others to worship the Lord in this way?
Q: How can you worship in a way resembling this passage?
Q: How can you influence others to worship the Lord in this way?
SING
PRAY
"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Lord, you hear the praises of the saints in every language. Help us to enjoy the sound you so enjoy. Give us open hearts to our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Lord, you hear the praises of the saints in every language. Help us to enjoy the sound you so enjoy. Give us open hearts to our brothers and sisters. Amen.