November 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

In this vision, all of God's children are drawn to the throne of God and to the Lamb.

Something about that innumerable multitude makes us shiver with joy. Jesus had said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32). And here they are. Our Lord is faithful.

God's people have come from races that fought each other, from tribes that killed each other, from countries that oppressed each other, from tongues that misunderstood each other. But here they are, a crowd no one can count, a harmony we cannot imagine.

They have come from all these nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. Their unity transcends everything that seemed to separate them in the world. Their loyalty was not to the nation, the tribe, the people, and the tongue. Jesus was their Lord, and to him they pledged fidelity. Theirs was the one holy, catholic, apostolic faith.

Our eyes see the vision and our hearts take courage, for the unity we seek is still so hard to express. Again and again we seem to be thrown back into the old units of the nation, the tribe, and the tongue. Our sins can still make us weep, but their robes are white. The victorious life still escapes us as we sink and sulk, but they are carrying palm branches to greet their King, who gives the victory.

The 144,000 and the great multitude are not two different groups. Both are what the angel lovingly calls "the servants of our God." In the first vision we may see, hear, and believe that God elects and protects and knows who are his own. In the second vision we may rejoice to know that the results of God's unconquerable grace will be a multitude no one can number. In spite of all obstacles and in spite of all divisions, no one will be able to count the multitude that will sing of God's unfailing grace.

REFLECTIONS

What lessons for your walk with God can you learn from this picture of the great multitude before the throne? Join with the multitude praising God, using the words of verse 12.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.