People from every nation will share in Jesus’s kingdom inheritance and mission.
For Lent this year, my daughters and I set a goal to read an entire storybook Bible together. Each night, we curled up on the couch, and my husband or I read a chapter or two to them. I love watching them see how all the stories fit together, telling one story that is also our story. Abraham had no family, but God made him one. That family became a people, who God called His own. They had no land, but God promised them one. They had no king, so God gave them one. And on and on the story goes, of disparate people bound together by the love of their good God. Now all believers are the heirs of all those promises, which Jesus fulfilled and will fulfill completely, for all time, when He returns to reign as King.
Today’s readings come from throughout Scripture, the Old Testament and the New, from Paul’s letters to John’s final Revelation. And they tell the whole story, tying up loose ends, asides, and confusing metaphors: the story of God’s people, Jews and Gentiles, and the redemption accomplished on the cross by Jesus, unifying them forever. Here, in Revelation 1, we see the sweeping scope of Scripture in two verses:
To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood,
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:5–6).
From the beginning in Genesis, God loved us. The book of Hosea reminds us of the plan He always had, to call a people who were not a people His own (Hosea 2:23). Peter later uses this same language: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people” (1Peter 2:10).
In Romans and Ephesians, Paul paints a picture of the unity of Christ’s followers: the diverse, vast, deep, wide, and encompassing body of people who are loved by God. He calls us words like “children,” “heirs” and “co-heirs,” “sons,” “fellow citizens” and “priests” to describe the Jews and Gentiles unified through Jesus into one family, one inheritance of glory (Romans 8).
The unity is hard-won, however, and incomplete until the day Jesus returns. The body of Christ is fractured, as it has been since Paul and Peter argued with other believers at the Jerusalem Council over how Gentile believers were to behave now that they had become followers of Jesus (Acts 15).
Church history is replete with examples of church councils and conflicts, denominational splits and debates. We hole up with our theological tribes and shoot arrows at each other from our keyboards, forgetting that Scripture is the story of God calling us together into His kingdom—and that our job isn’t to win the fight, but to pursue the peace that Jesus won for us on the cross.
When we read Revelation 5, God reminds us that our future home is not full of people who look, think, act, read, or believe exactly how we do. In fact, Jesus secured the opposite by His blood: a beautiful, diverse kingdom from every tribe, language, people, and nation, unified forever by the God who loves them all as His own (Revelation 7:9–10).
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51 thoughts on "The King’s People"
God’s grace is poured out on me IN wisdom and understanding and WITH wisdom and understanding. Wow
Our heavenly father wrote a beautiful story for us didn’t he?
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22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:22
I love seeing your posts. A Child Of God is now written on my daughter’s headstone and her name was Taylor. Your posts make me smile. I have a feeling you two would have been good friends. Praying you have a blessed day as you are a blessing to others
Candace Smith—How is your BIL? What did he find out from his stress test?
Alexandra—How is your dad? Is the tumor cancerous?
Mia Faith—How is your grandchild?
Pam C—How is your mother? What is the latest on her?
Good morning all! What a day that will be to be bowing before Jesus praising him with people of every nation and every tongue. What an exciting time!
I encourage you, if you have not read the comments from a couple years ago from people like Churchmouse, or Nancy Singleton, or any of the others, to take a look. They offered such encouragement two years ago, and still bring that encouragement today when you read their comments.
Have a blessed day Sisters! I am keeping all of you in prayer.
Very well said Churchmouse!!!!!!
In other words, be still
Oh God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You!
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Such a good reminder how God chose us before he created the world!
Such a good reminder that God chose us before he created the world!
You ARE my God..thank YOU that I can be one of Your people through the Blood of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
I am a daughter of the King. How so very special this is. That I get to be a part of a Kingdom so vast in language, culture, and love- yet be so seen that Christ himself does for me. What a King we serve, our Savior, our Father.
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I am so thankful for his peace!
We must fast and pray!
Lord i thank you.
I am SO late reading this… EXCELLENT devotion, Melanie!!! So we’ll expressed.
God bless
I love the beautiful celebration of diversity in this.
I am thankful that we will not all be the same in Jesus reign or Gods kingdom. I love diversity and different thoughts.
Peace and unity that we will eventually have but struggle to achieve at present. May we bring glimpses of God’s kingdom here and now as we seek his peace and unity!
I loved the SRT podcast that was released today – so good! I have been struggling with worry and anger over the division in our country – in our churches – with our family and friends and feeling like I am right and they are wrong. I think Ellie said it is not our job to change their minds. Jesus would invite them to dinner and speak the truth. Take the speck out of our eye, speak truth and let the Holy Spirit dwell in us! She also said to be a good listener – listen to others stories and open our hearts to other points of view – neighbors that are different than us – and learn of ways others are suffering that we may not have understood. I know all this but it gave me such peace and hope to hear it today! I have an inheritance and am so loved and so grateful ❤️ And want to be generous with the mission I have to live for God.
Wow Churchmouse. Beautifully said. Thank you. You are so right. Glory to God.
I was thinking of this version of the song: Is He Worthy. This was recorded last year when people weren’t gathering at church. The woman with the glasses and bluish purple sweater caught my attention as she is worshiping God. She seems so sincere. Look at her countenance and the others too. May we all worship the Father reverently and joyfully. May it be that we never forget or minimize what our Savior has done. Here is a link: https://youtu.be/fs7Kah6wnY8
Praying for you Sarah D.
Hallelujah.
All glory be to Jesus who died to purchase people for God by his blood, from every tribe, language, and nation. He is worthy of all praise. Let all that have breath praise the Lord. Let us walk wisely after the Spirit and live worthily of His sacrifice, in words, deeds, and attitude.
Sarah, praying for your focus in your last week of college. You are almost done. Don’t be sad, another exciting chapter is waiting ahead. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength to finish strong!
Melody Bates, praying for your family and your aunt’s family. May strength and hope be poured out.
I want to always love and live like I am God’s daughter.❤️
I pray that I would live in a place of peace with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray we would be United in Christ.
The Kingdom of Heavon and being with God, as believers, is our future. I myself look forward to that day when there will be no more pain, sorrow or death.
Right now our family is preparing to say goodbye to a beloved aunt. She told her husband yesterday that she was ready to be with Jesus. While we are all selfishly grieving what we are losing, I cannot help but to rejoice in what she will be receiving.
Hi all, if you could please pray for me this week. It’s my last week of college and finals, and I’ve already cried multiple times within the last week. I have so much to do in schoolwork, plus all the emotions of graduating is really hard. I’m going to miss my school so much. Please pray for strength, that I would do well in my tests/lab report/finals, finish strong, and trust God with my future. Love you all.
Lord I pray that we would seek unity in those who have hurt us. Life can get so lonely Lord when we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, making a home for grudges and bitterness. Tear down the stone walls in our hearts that are festering with these things and flood us with love. Help us, Holy Spirit, to forgive those who hurt us. Give us a warm heart that seeks unity, even when it’s scary and unknown Jesus.
Amen! ❤️❤️
Loved this day. I really appreciate the non-denominational aspect of SRT. it’s so refreshing since I live in the Bible Belt.
Really good study today. Something I will come back to time and time again. Thank you.
Maura, I love what you wrote and am so thankful for God’s gift to us and His patience!! I also noticed that in Isaiah 2!! SO good!!! I am really liking reading Isaiah along with the SRT devotionals and am thankful that you’re reading along with me!!
Be Blessed today all of my dear sisters!!
This song immediately came to mind; the lyrics fit so well. He Reigns by the News boys :
“All God’s children singin’
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah
He Reigns, He reigns
Every tribe and tongue and nation
Hallelujah! He reigns! Hallelujah!
You’re my glory! You’re my glory!
Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
All God’s children singin’
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah
He Reigns.”
Awww so much to be thankful for. Did you notice that we have already received the down payment of our inheritance the Holy Spirit and are sealed with him. Ephesians 1:13-14 And, that the Holy Spirit testifies with our Spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:12-17 How great is our God to give His son for our Salvation, then His Spirit for the first part of our inheritance. Loved Revelations picture of us all before the throne of Grace. He is So worthy of our praise. So much to look forward to so much hope in our God. Erb, Isaiah 2, I noticed the repetition of man being brought low, because of worshiping that which he had made with his own hands, and that in that day the Lord alone would be exalted. Sisters, Happy Monday, may we realize this day the treasure we have in God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The much and the plenty of grace, mercy and joy He gives us. Love to you all.
Sarah joy, I had a similar experience while visiting a small Christian church in Turkey: familiar hymns were sung, one verse in Turkish, next in English, final verse & chorus in both languages together. I too felt it was a glimpse of Heaven.
Unity is not possible without your Spirit, Lord. Give us eyes to see your children the way You do, that unity might come to your body. Amen!
Looking forward to my eternal home…it is that hope that gets me through some days!
STRUGGLING – “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord” Ps. 31:24
So good!! Let’s pursue the peace that comes from Christ rather than trying to win the battle of who is right and who is wrong…unity in the Church would be an amazing testimony to a world so desperately in need of truth, hope and peace! I am so thankful this morning for the Spirit of the Living God living in me!! All honour and glory to His Name!!
It’s all because of Jesus – all because of His great love for us that I might be called a child of God. Thank you Jesus!
For several months a co-worker invited me to visit his church, and I finally had the opportunity to attend with my friend. As I sat in their tiny church the words around me did not communicate to my brain. This sweet congregation sang with passion and faith in their native tongues – French and maybe some of African languages. The words flowed around me, and I was transported to our future before the throne. How I hope eternity with every tribe, tongue and nation will consist of languages intermixing! My heart lit with the release of knowing not with my logical mind but instead sensing the Spirit deeply through the atrophied senses that had to work instead. I cannot explain it well, but it certainly felt like heaven.
I was once in a small group of theologically diverse believers. We were studying Revelation and an intense, and at times quite animated, discussion began. Premillenial. Post-millennial. Amillenial. Rapture pre or post or mid-tribulation. As women firmly presented their positions I asked, “Which one of you, when Jesus comes back and stands before you in all His glory, is going to question His timing?” (I said it kindly and with a slight smile). There are mysteries in the Bible. There are things we can’t understand with our finite minds. These should not cause divisions between us but unite us in dependence on our good and loving God. We should be united in encouraging one another to keep the faith. Leave the details of God’s plan to Him. Just imitate Jesus here on the earth until He calls us home,however He chooses. And daily be grateful we have a trustworthy Savior.
Good morning! Isn’t it amazing to know the love of our Savior? He chose US before the foundation of the world. We were created for HIS purpose before he created anything else. This is what I need to remember when all feels forsaken. God calls us to him, just this weekend, two of my young granddaughters took part in believers baptism. They are choosing to follow Christ. My heart is full!
What a wonderful, beautiful promise we have! Words cannot express the gratitude and the joy in my heart that we have a hope in the life to come! That through Jesus’ sacrifice, we have become the Children of God!! “Praise be to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Scripture is the story of God calling us together I into His kingdom- our job isn’t to win the fight, BUT to pursue the PEACE that Jesus won for us on the cross!!! Whew I am so grateful the battle is already won and I just need to purse peace from Jesus!!! So easy yet so hard to remember!! Sending love to all you SRT sisters and prayers for a week filled with insight from the study, peace in your heart and love in your life!!
The Spirit has recently been reminding me and helping me realize the great blessing, as a gentile, to be brought into the family of God. And it is a gift open to all because of Jesus.
One of the young women who come to my home for Bible study said she heard this: “This (earth) is the closest thing to heaven unbelievers will ever know. This (earth) is the closest thing to hell believers will ever know.”
Thank you Jesus.
Amen what a wonderful feeling to belong, no longer an outside. I love this series it has made me feel at peace and loved. Happy Monday