“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throneand before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelations 7:9–10).

 

May 21 is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a special observance intended to generate awareness and respect for every ethnicity. As Christians, we of all people ought to embrace cultural harmony, because we know that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

You can start a tradition in your own family or community by observing this special World Day with your children and their friends. Here are some ideas.

 

  1. Host a potluck of international cuisine.
  2. Watch a documentary about life in another culture.
  3. Invite a foreign exchange student out for ice cream and ask questions about his/her home country.
  4. Create a Pinterest board for ethnic recipes, crafts, fashion or party traditions.
  5. Write a letter to a family serving as missionaries abroad. Thank them for their service, and commit to praying for them regularly over the course of a year.
  6. Create a collage of Bible verses related to the unity of nations. Display it on your kitchen table or living room mantel. (Ideas: Psalm 33:12, Acts 17:26, Psalm 22:27–28, Matthew 25:32, Ezekiel 38:23, Romans 16:25–26)
  7. Learn to say “God bless you” in another language.
  8. Donate money or other goods to an international missions fund.
  9. Sponsor a child through a non-profit ministry.
  10. Tag foreign-born friends on Facebook and ask them to share one favorite custom from their homeland.

 

Most importantly, encourage your children to accept people from other backgrounds, and remind them that God created everyone, of all colors, countries and languages. Just imagine what heaven must be like—a worldwide worship service for the King of all nations!