Read Psalm 117:12-19 1Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
It has always been God’s plan from the beginning to save all nations. All peoples. This was the covenant with Abraham – through you ever nation on Earth will be blessed. This is the scene in Revelation – every nation, tribe, and tongue surrounding the throne of Christ in worship of him.
For now, this is our reality in Christ. The body of Christ is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic body. This is why our mission is to reach every ethnos, making disciples of every nation, every people. All to the glory of Christ and his great love.
The psalmist foresaw our church age, didn’t he? For great is his steadfast love toward US. Us? The psalmist isn’t just saying God loves the world. He’s attributing the Lord’s steadfast love, his hesed, his covenant love to the whole world. This is actually quite shocking. God will give his same love to the Gentiles that he has given to the Jews? Yes, in Christ that is exactly what he has done. In him, we are the children of Abraham, the children of faith.
Do you embrace God’s love in Christ flowing to all people? Is your heart closed to any particular group of people? To live is Christ embraces the heart of Christ for all nations. For all people. Remember, we were all once outsiders brought in by grace alone.
Prayer. Jesus, open up my heart to all the nations as your body. I look forward to that day when every nation, tribe, and tongue gathers to worship you. Amen.