Your Kingdom Come: God’s Heart for DiversitySample

Day 1 - Diversity is in Eternity

 In Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus teaches us how to pray saying "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven..." but when you say these words, what do you see? What does Heaven look like? 

In Revelation, John begins to paint a picture of what heaven looks like and it is full of life and full of colour.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9)

“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.” (Revelation 5:9)

 John’s writing reveals that ethnicity is a part of our eternal make-up and diversity is found in eternity. He sees a melody of people who Jesus died for standing, singing and worshipping together. There is ethnic harmony in Heaven but do we seek the same on Earth?

 Our human nature wanders towards prejudice, bias and stereotypical thinking but as we search for truth and pursue God’s heart, we can experience the unity that is only made possible through the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. God wants to build a diverse church so that must be our desire too, but this requires humility, earnest reflection and ultimately a response to see God’s kingdom here on Earth. As you read this devotional, come with an open heart and a willing posture because this is us church. We are eternal beings with an eternal focus, different and yet united by the blood of the Lamb.

 Reflection Points

• Thank Jesus for securing eternal redemption through His blood
• Ask God to open your heart to receive the truth and revelation He wants to bring through this devotional
• Ask God to grow your heart and vision for a diverse church