You’re Thinking Too Small
READ
Picture the scene: Jesus has risen from the dead, and His disciples are buzzing with excitement. Surely now He'll overthrow Roman occupation and restore Israel's glory, right? They ask Him point-blank: "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus' response must have stunned them. He essentially says, "You're thinking too small."
Let’s take a moment to read Acts 1:6-8:
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
REFLECT
Instead of a political takeover in one nation, Jesus announces a global movement that will reach "the ends of the earth"—powered not by armies or political maneuvering, but by the Holy Spirit. This is the genius of God's plan. The Ecclesia—the called-out assembly of believers—wouldn't be limited by geography, ethnicity, or political borders. It would transcend every human-made boundary.
Fast forward to John's vision in Revelation 7, and we see the breathtaking result: a multitude no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before God's throne. This isn't about everyone becoming the same or abandoning their cultural identity. It's about stunning diversity united in worship of Jesus.
Think about what this means for us today. The Church isn't an American institution or a Western export. It's not primarily about any one culture or tradition. It's a global family where a farmer in rural Kenya and a businessman in Tokyo are equally at home. Where a grandmother in Guatemala and a college student in Sydney call each other brother and sister.
This global vision challenges our tendency toward tribalism and insularity. It pushes back against the nationalism that wants to claim God for "our side." It reminds us that our primary citizenship is in a Kingdom that knows no borders.
When we gather on Sunday mornings, we're not just meeting with the people in our building. We're joining a worldwide chorus of praise. When we pray, we're interceding alongside believers who are praying in languages we've never heard. When we struggle, we're supported by a family that spans continents.
This is what the early disciples couldn't yet imagine—that the movement Jesus started would become the most diverse community in human history. That His Kingdom would indeed have no borders.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
What barriers (cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, political) tend to divide Christians in your area, and how might you help bridge them?
In what ways have you experienced or witnessed the beauty of the Church's diversity?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord Jesus, thank You that Your Kingdom has no borders and Your family includes every tribe and tongue. Help me to see beyond my own cultural perspective and embrace the global nature of Your Church. Open my eyes to the beauty of Your diverse family, and give me a heart that celebrates rather than fears our differences. Expand my vision to match Yours—a vision that encompasses the whole world. Amen.