Loving the Nations

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled, Loving the Nations, was written by Nancy Gavalanes. As the daughter of two loving and hardworking parents from Central and South America, I'm grateful they had the courage to be the first in their families to immigrate to the United States for better opportunities.

They met as young adults in New York City, married, had my sister and me, and went on to run their respective businesses. As a native New Yorker, I've grown up embracing my Hispanic heritage and have been fascinated with people of diverse backgrounds. For instance, I once shared my story of faith at an evening service at a multicultural church that meets in a former Broadway theater. Speaking to a multicultural group about God's love is only a glimpse of what heaven will be like when we see people from different nations come together as the body of Christ. In Revelation, the Apostle John gives us this amazing picture of heaven, saying in Chapter 7, Now we have just a glimpse of what heaven will be like. But one day, we who believe in Jesus will be united with him and with people from different countries, cultures, and languages.

Since God loves the nations, let's also love our global family in Christ. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Revelation Chapter 7, verses 9 through 12. After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice, All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.

They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you for giving us a glimpse of the glorious unity we will experience in heaven. As we anticipate that day when believers from all nations, cultures, and languages will be united with you and each other, help us to embrace and love our global family in Christ here on earth. May your love for all nations inspire us to break down barriers, foster understanding, and cultivate deep connections with our brothers and sisters in faith around the world. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening today. My name is Brenna Holsclaw, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.