- Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 – Solomon desired even those who aren’t of Israel to feel welcomed to come and pray to God here in this temple he built. He wanted all people to know of the greatness of God and was open to using this building he made for that purpose. How thrilled are you when someone extremely different than you comes to your church building? Do you actually pray for that to happen? Are you truly ok with people far different than you using the place you call your church home? That means people with criminal records that would make your grandma faint using it. That means people who have a different sexual orientation than you using it. That means people who are not your political party using it. Yet if they are willing to come and use it to turn their eyes to Jesus, can we really have any issue with this and still have the type of heart Jesus wants us to have? Let’s not only be ok if this were to take place but be actively seeking out ways to make it happen. Let’s get to the place where our heart breaks when everyone in church looks and lives exactly like us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1520
- If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 2 Chronicles 6:36-39 – After the completion of the building of the temple, Solomon turns to bless the whole congregation and lifts up a prayer of dedication to the Lord. Close to the end of his prayer, Solomon speaks the words in our verses, and what stands out to me is how much this is like our prayer of salvation. Those who have sinned, which is all of us, are in the enemy’s hand, and are carried far away from where we should be with the Lord. Yet, if in that place they turn their heart to the Lord and repent of their sin, the Lord will forgive and save. Today know a means of saving is available to you from the fear of death and a forgiving of all your wrongs can be found, all in Jesus. If you haven’t ever turned to Jesus and want to know more about how to do so, reach out please. If today you have already turned to Jesus, let today be a day dedicated to helping someone else know they can turn to Jesus. Let your eyes and heart be open today as you move throughout your day for who may need to hear the good news of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2595
Daily DEVO 