January 13

Prayer For All

“For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:7b

There can be no question whatsoever that the Church must be a place where all people from all places can be welcome.  The Church ceases to be the Church if anyone created in the image of God is excluded or in any way made to feel unwelcome because of race, ethnicity, nationality, or any division created and emphasized by fallen humanity.  We have heeded well the word from the Lord given to the prophet Isaiah that His house is to be a house of prayer for all nations.  If we truly desire to show forth the love of God, our focus cannot simply be on the house where all nations are welcomed and loved, but it must also be upon prayer that is to be offered for all nations.  His house is a house of prayer where all nations are welcomed and where prayer is offered for all nations.  Our intercessions must reach beyond our own borders to cover all nations of the world.  Needs are present in all nations.  People are in need of healing in all nations.  Parents weep over prodigals in all nations.  Deliverance is needed in all nations.  Hearts are broken in all nations.  Prayer must be offered not only for those we can see or those we know; prayer must be offered for those who we will never see and we will never know.  To us they may seem like nameless and faceless masses, but every name is known by the Lord and every face is cherished by the Lord.  Because all people everywhere matter to God, we must make His house, and all of our houses, a house of prayer for all nations—where prayer is offered for all nations.