12/28 Revelation 5:9-10

⁹ 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, ¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

John had been taken up into heaven to witness the victorious Lion of the tribe of Judah take the sealed scroll. Jesus was the only one worthy to open it. When John looked again, the Lion was the Lamb looking as if it had been slain. The opening of the seals on the scroll usher in the end of man's kingdoms, followed by the reign of Christ. All inhumanity and injustice will be stopped. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the seas (Isaiah 11:9).

Jesus was and is worthy because He willingly shed His blood to ransom people for God from every tribe, language, ethnicity, and country. The city of God, New Jerusalem, will certainly be a place of unity in diversity. But these people whom the Lamb has redeemed will not remain in the city playing harps. They will be out among humankind as priestly rulers of the earth. Finally the world will have godly leaders who have no selfish motivations. As priests, their every decision will be to show the justice and righteousness of God, while also demonstrating His grace and love toward all.

Consider: When Jesus reigns, His body, which is the church, will help the world to know how good Jesus is. We won't be sitting around twiddling our thumbs. But first, Jesus must finish what He started in you and me. How is that coming along in your life?