Day 20 Unity and Peace [S01:E20]

In this devotional from 21 Days of Prayer & Meditation, Anthony Skinner reflects on Revelation 7:9–10 and the vision of a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language gathered before God's throne. This Christian meditation invites you to imagine the beauty of heaven's diversity, unique cultures, voices, and expressions, all unified in worship of the Lamb. Through scripture reflection, prayer, and stillness, discover how God restores His original design, reconciles all people to Himself, and calls us to celebrate differences while living in the unity of His love. SCRIPTURE Revelation 7:9-10 "I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb...And they were shouting with a great roar, 'Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!'"   DEVOTION Imagine this scene: A crowd with people from every nation, every tribe, every people, every language, all standing in front of the throne, joyfully worshipping at the top of their lungs. That scene sounds like the most electrifying, exciting, chaotic, joyful, unified display of life. How did John know they were from different tribes, tongues, nations, and people groups?  He knew because he could see it and hear it!  It was a joyful celebration of different people with different languages, colors, and expressions of praise.   There were differences of all kinds, but they had something in common.   They had all been bought with a price and brought into the family of God.  They had been redeemed and restored and made whole.  And they were unified in who deserved their affection and praise. When we talk of heaven, we often speak as if we will be changed into someone other than who we are.  But that is not what happens in heaven.  The Kingdom of God is about completion.  It is about restoration.  It is about returning everything to the original plan - God's original dream!!!    Of course, where sin and trauma and illness and evil of all kinds have twisted us and marred the original design God had for us - that will be removed forever.   But Jesus did not come to turn us into someone else.  Jesus came to bring us into OUR fullness. We also imagine that the harmony in heaven will result from us all being the same.  But that is not what John saw around the throne.  No, he saw a vast multitude of diversity.  God's perfect will allows us to be uniquely different but unified under him.   That is heaven.  Everyone is different in size, shape, color, and background but everyone is the same in the spirit of adoption - one God, one King, one Lord, one Father, one Savior.  No need to compete for attention or control for security.  Instead, in the Kingdom, everyone is satisfied in God's love and able to fully celebrate and honor the beauty and uniqueness of all God's children.   QUESTIONS Am I afraid of people who are different than me?  What differences make me the most uncomfortable?  Ask God why.  Talk to God.  Let him transform your thinking through His kindness.   PRAYER God, you came to restore me.  You came to reconcile all things to yourself.  Give me eyes to see your original design for me.  Give me the heart to embrace and even celebrate the differences in race, color, personality, and nationality of others.  Exchange my fears for your peace.  Teach me to love as you love.