Day 10

Bible passage: Revelation 5:9–13 (ESVUK)

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,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”

Thinking about the new creation and prayer

In Revelation 5, John depicts Jesus, the Lamb who was slain who is on the throne, surrounded by those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, who are praising him.

What does this passage help you appreciate about the new creation?

We could read this picture and think the new creation is a boring, non-stop time of singing songs.

  • Think: what from this passage suggests that is not the case? What from the last nine days of Bible passages shows that this is not the case? Try and picture this day in your mind. Think of all the people who will be there. Think about what they will be saying to Jesus and why. All of us belong to a different tribe or nation or people. But in Philippians 3:20, Paul describes Christians as citizens of heaven.
  • Pray: as a citizen of heaven, ask for God’s help to eagerly await the return of Jesus and to set your mind on the new creation now, despite the temptations to focus on life in this world.

Today

Our primary tie as Christians is to the new creation, not to a country in this world. As you pass people of every tribe and language and people and nation on your walk or run today, think ahead to this day when people of every tribe and language and nation will stand around the throne praising Jesus. Think of all the people in our church family who, although we cannot see them at the moment, will be with us on that day.

Thinking further

You could message someone another Christian you may know, of a different tribe, tongue, language or nation, and encourage them with a truth you’ve enjoyed about the new creation.