从各族和各国中

“从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神。” - 启 5:9

我们瞥见天上宝座所在之地，将会在今天以赞美完满结束。二十四位长老和四活物的赞美越来越高涨，包括“千千万万”的天使的声音，跟着，他们联同在天上和整个创造的“所有被造之物”，一同发出赞美的声音。

我们也被邀请，联同天和地一起把赞美和尊贵归给“坐宝座的和羔羊。”我们能够这样做，因为三位一体的每一位－圣父、圣子、和圣灵－一同在我们里面作工。我们知道父神创造我们，是要我们敬拜祂。

耶稣以祂的血救赎了我们，叫我们成为一个独特的身体，齐来献上我们的敬拜。藉着祂在十架上的牺牲，耶稣“从各族、各方、各民、各国中”买赎了我们，又叫我们“成为国民，作祭司，归于神”。耶稣建造桥梁，把那些学会了竖立围墙的人连结起来。

今天，圣灵在教会中运行，叫他们能够在里面感受、经历和实践合一、好客、和爱心的恩赐，这些都是耶稣用祂的血买来的。在教会群体中和藉着他们的见证，竖起的墙都倒塌下来，而各国各方的人都能重新连结起来合而为一了。

主耶稣，藉着你的死和复活，你叫万民合而为一，求你装备我们和你在世界各地的教会，让我们能够在我们的言语和行为上，成为合一的见证。阿们。

7这羔羊前来，从坐宝座的右手里拿了书卷。
8他既拿了书卷，四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿着琴和盛满了香的金炉。这香就是众圣徒的祈祷。
9他们唱新歌，说：“你配拿书卷，配揭开七印，因为你曾被杀，用自己的血从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神，
10又叫他们成为国民做祭司，归于神，在地上执掌王权。”
11我又看见且听见宝座与活物并长老的周围有许多天使的声音，他们的数目有千千万万，
12大声说：“曾被杀的羔羊是配得权柄、丰富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀、颂赞的！”
13我又听见在天上、地上、地底下、沧海里和天地间一切所有被造之物都说：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远！”
14四活物就说：“阿们！”众长老也俯伏敬拜。

From Every Tribe And Nation

“With your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” - Revelation 5:9

英语音频 English Audio

Today our glimpse into heaven’s throne room closes with a finale of praise. The praises from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures swell to include “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” angels. Their praises then join with those of “every creature” in heaven and throughout the creation.

We are invited to join all of heaven and earth in giving praise and honor to “him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” All three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—work in us to make this possible. We know that God the Father created us to give worship to him.

Jesus redeemed us by his blood to be a unique body together in the giving of our worship. By his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has purchased us “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” He has made us “to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.” Jesus builds bridges and creates bonds between people who have learned to raise dividing walls.

Today the Holy Spirit moves churches to become places where the gifts of unity, hospitality, and love, purchased by Jesus’ blood, are felt, experienced, and practiced. Within and through the witness of church communities, walls come tumbling down, and bonds of unity between peoples of all nations and languages are made anew.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, equip us and your churches everywhere to be places that show—in word and deed—the unity you bring to all peoples through your death and resurrection. Amen.