Today our glimpse into heaven’s throne room closes with a finale of praise. The praises from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures swell to include “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” angels. Their praises then join with those of “every creature” in heaven and throughout the creation.

We are invited to join all of heaven and earth in giving praise and honor to “him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” All three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—work in us to make this possible. We know that God the Father created us to give worship to him.

Jesus redeemed us by his blood to be a unique body together in the giving of our worship. By his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has purchased us “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” He has made us “to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.” Jesus builds bridges and creates bonds between people who have learned to raise dividing walls.

Today the Holy Spirit moves churches to become places where the gifts of unity, hospitality, and love, purchased by Jesus’ blood, are felt, experienced, and practiced. Within and through the witness of church communities, walls come tumbling down, and bonds of unity between peoples of all nations and languages are made anew.