A New Song

My Personal Devotional Diary Today: Sunday 12-28-14 (At home in Modesto) Scripture reading: Rev. Chapters 5-9

S. Rev 5:9-10  And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.  For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth." NLT

O.  Why is this called a new song?  For centuries the Jews were spoken of as God’s chosen people.  All others seemed of lesser importance, classed together as “Gentiles”, a title which seemed to indicate a lower grade of peoples.  The Jews were the ones that had the laws of Moses.  They went about sacrificing lambs yearly for their family’s sins.  They were proud to be God’s chosen people.  But they failed to comprehend that little phrase in God’s promise to Jacob in Genesis 28:14  “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.”  The Israelites were God’s chosen people for a purpose.  They were chosen to present the Good News to the world… news that would bless all people, of every language and nation.  

This new song is sung to Jesus, “…Your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  The promise to Jacob centuries ago had now been fulfilled.

A.  There was one remaining factor, however.  All these vast nations of the world still had to hear and receive this Good News.  The finished work of Christ was completed.  The Lamb of God was slain.  The ransom for sinners was paid in full.  Every man on this earth can now believe and follow the Lamb into full salvation, but how can they believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? 

The Apostle Paul presents the challenge to every Christian of every age: Rom 10:13-15 “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" NLT

P.  Open our ears and our hearts, Lord Jesus, to hear the message.  Your New Song is calling us to share the Good News with “every tribe and language and people and nation.”  Our commission is world-wide.  Your voice is saying, “The price is paid.  Your debt is canceled.  The Lamb of God has been slain for the sins of the whole world… and He has risen from the dead, victorious over death, hell and the grave.  Now go into all the world and share the Good News.”  

You, Lord Jesus, have made our commission clear.  You have given us a powerful message accompanied with the anointing of the Holy Spirit to convey it to the nations.  Now, what will be our response?  Will we go?  Will we complete the task?  

Lord help us, help me, to not relax until every nation, tribe and tongue has had an adequate chance to hear Your Good News and rejoice in Your salvation!

Amen.

Ralph