FOREIGNERS WELCOME TO GOD’S TEMPLE             2 Chronicles 6:28-33

Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; (v32)

Racial reconciliation is a major issue for the Church in countries where people are identified or discriminated against based on the colour of their skin. In these countries, it is rare to find white and blacks believers fellowship together. The problem emanated from the society and the Church has not done much to help the situation. In other climes where the issue is not about the colour of the skin, some believers still discriminate against one another based on their ethnic affiliation, language and other differences. In today’s text, Solomon demonstrated the fact that Israel does not have the monopoly of access to the Almighty God. In his prayer of dedication, he thanks God and intercedes for the Israelites. He prays for the people to be heard as they pray towards Jerusalem in repentance in a variety of circumstances like famine, plague, blight or milder, diseases or disaster. He also envisages that the revelation of God in Israel is not only nationalistic, it reaches out to all peoples everywhere. The temple is to be a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:6-7) He, therefore prays that people outside Israel may come to know God through this temple and that their prayer will be heard (vv32-33) As believers in Christ, our concern for others should go beyond the natural tendency of affiliating with those from our people groups. Read Matthew 28:19-20. Christ has given us peace to dwell with one another without any discomfort (Ephesians 2:14)

PRAYER LINE: Lord, intervene in my case and that of the nation today to see “foreigners” the way You see them.

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God accepts all who come to Him in true submission and humility. (NBC)