Skip to main content

Devotional 9.12.25


September 12, 2025 – All the Peoples

Ephesians 1:7-10 – 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[ to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.

 

Scripture Reading – Psalm 87

 

God desires to dwell with his people. But that begs two questions. Who are God’s people and where will they dwell with him? God promised Abraham that he would make him a great nation, and that through him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen. 12:1-2). The descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob became known as the nation of Israel. But that’s not where the ancestry ends. We see throughout the Old Testament that God’s desire was to be redeem, to be united, to gather yet others to him besides those already gathered (Isaiah 56:8).

 

Who are the others? It’s us. It’s people from every nation, tribe and language (Rev. 7:9). It is the mystery of God’s will, through the blood of Jesus Christ, that we have redemption and can dwell with him. All things are united in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him (Eph. 1:10). God’s love and affection for Zion, his chosen dwelling place with his people, is evident in Psalm 87. Verse 6 tells us he registers the peoples, plural. Our salvation, our ability to dwell with God, are made possible by the cornerstone of Zion (Jesus) laid by God himself (1 Peter 2:6/Isaiah 28:16).

 

On Sunday we will lift our diverse voices in song, beginning with “The Lord’s Prayer.” We’ll sing Let Your Kingdom come, let your will be done. The kingdom, the power, the glory are God’s alone forever. Yet it’s his will to invite us to be among the nations, to be registered as his people, to be part of his kingdom. In “All Sufficient Merit” we’ll be reminded how this is possible, by Jesus’s work on the cross. In “Holy Holy Holy” we’ll praise the only one perfect in power, love and purity. Finally, “Behold Our God” gives us words for an appropriate response. Come, let us adore him. As every nation will one day cry out in a loud voice, we too can worship knowing salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Rev. 7:10).

Further reading: Genesis 12:2-3; Isaiah 56:1-8, 62:11-12; 2 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 7:9-10  


Reflection Questions:

1.     What thoughts and emotions come to mind when you consider Jesus as the cornerstone of God’s dwelling place, uniting all peoples together for eternity?

2.     What effect does that have on your life, and how you worship the Lord, today?

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I’m humbled and in awe of your great love for me, knowing that you’ve made it possible for me to one day dwell with you. Help me to live today in light of eternity, to have a heart for you alone, a worshipful spirit, and a love like yours for all of your people from every nation, tribe and language. Amen.


A playlist of the morning worship songs can be listened to here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotional.1.5.25

Devotional on   Ephesians 2:4–7, Psalm 51 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus  (Eph. 2:4-7) .   This Sunday we will gather for the first time of this New Year, 2025 and will be returning to our sermon series  Psalms: Heart, Soul, and Mind , beginning with Psalm 51. The New Year brings an opportunity for new beginnings, new goals, and a sense of a fresh start. Psalm 51 is a great chapter to focus on in the beginning of a new year because it is a prayer of repentance, confession, and praise. David, having been convicted of his sin with Bathsheba, pours out his heart to God, asking for forgiveness and mercy. He recognizes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional 7.11.25

July 11, 2025 – Tell The Story Matthew 28:18-20:  And Jesus came and said to them,  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   Scripture Reading – Psalm 78   What’s your story? What is God’s redemptive story? Do those intersect for you? This week is a good time to reflect on those questions. The writer of Psalm 78 is recounting the lessons from Israel’s past. Asaph is doing this to remind them of who God is, the mighty and faithful acts he’s done, and that Israel (the tribe of Judah, v. 68) are God’s chosen people. The psalmist’s desire is that they not only repent of their sin and unbelief (v. 32), but that their transformation and turning back to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional. 1.10.25

  Devotional on  Hebrews 3:1-3, Psalm 52   Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,   2  who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.   3  For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.    This Sunday we will continue in our sermon series  Psalms: Heart, Soul, and Mind  with Psalm 52. As I was reading this psalm, with the lyrics of our morning worship songs playing in my head, I was struck by the awareness of choice. David is writing during a very difficult and dangerous time, and yet chooses worship instead of despair.    God gave us the gift of free will, the ability to make choices and to have discernment. Many of us have started 2025 with goals, or resolutions. How are...
Post a Comment
Read more