Way back in Old Testament times, God took a man named Abraham and made a very special promise through him: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Certainly, through this promise, God was foreshadowing Jesus—a descendent of Abraham—the One in whom all peoples would ultimately be blessed. But there’s more for us here, because the promise doesn’t only foreshadow Jesus, it also reveals God’s heart.
Read that promise again: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Emphasis mine). Ever since ancient days, God has been revealing his heart for humanity. All humanity. Yep, even those of us who’ve done some pretty messed up things, and those of us who are broken, and those of us who need healing, and those of us who need love, compassion, and a sense of belonging.
The great promise God made to us through Abraham shows us just how much he loves all of us, no matter our past mistakes, ethnicities, spoken languages, socio-economic classes, the generation we’re a part of, or even how lovable or unlovable we are. He welcomes all who trust in Christ. And then he encourages us to do the same. This week, ask God to grow your heart as a welcoming heart, that your heart would have room for all peoples, just like God’s heart.