Daily Devotions
God chose Abraham and his descendants to be His own people, His holy nation. The promised Messiah would be born among them, but the Messiah would not come only to save Israel. God said to Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3b). In these verses, the psalmist prays for God’s blessing and favor on His people so that His saving power would be known among all nations. It is a prayer that the promise to Abraham will be fulfilled.
At the birth of Christ, God’s saving power was made known among the nations as Gentiles who studied the stars came to find the new King of the Jews. Guided by a star, these wise men found and worshiped the holy Child of Bethlehem. As Jesus began His ministry of teaching and healing, many people believed in Him but others rejected Him as their Messiah. Kings and rulers plotted against Him and the nations He came to save raged against Him (see Psalm 2:1). Yet even as Jesus died on the cross, His Lordship was proclaimed by the sign posted above His head, announcing the supposed crime for which He had been condemned: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19b).
The sign was written in three languages, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek (see John 19:20), so that people of many nations would be able to read about the thorn-crowned King. Rising in triumph over every foe and over death itself, the risen Savior sent His followers out into the world to make disciples of all nations. After Jesus ascended to His heavenly throne as King of kings, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples on Pentecost. The disciples spoke in many languages as they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus. People from many countries gathered in Jerusalem and exclaimed in astonishment: “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11b).
Jesus told His disciples that they would be witnesses for Him, beginning at home, in Jerusalem, and on to the end of the earth. So still today the psalmist’s prayer is answered as we make God’s ways known on earth, at home to our family, friends, and neighbors, and through our support for those who go to distant lands to bring Christ to the nations. We pray that God will bless us and look on us with favor as we make His saving power known among the nations. One day we will stand before God’s throne among the redeemed “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9b). The psalmist’s prayer, and ours, will have been fully and finally answered: “Let all the peoples praise You!”
WE PRAY: Lord God, help me to make Your saving power known among the nations so that all people will praise You! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you researched your family tree? If so, what did you find interesting there?
2. Can you name some biblical characters who were descended from Abraham?
3. How has God invited us into His family through Jesus?