Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 56Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Verse 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant- Verse 7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Verse 8Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.
Devotion
What would happen on Sunday morning if each person reading this God Pause brought an “outcast” to worship? According to the tradition of Isaiah, God would rejoice. According to the tradition of the church, those of us who sit in the pews might get a little nervous. For some reason, we find it difficult to wrap our minds around how inclusive God truly wants to be.
You probably have a good idea who the outcasts are in your community. It could be an unfriendly neighbor, a single mom, a rebellious teen, a divorced man, an unruly autistic child, or an immigrant worker. God’s community includes those outside the walls of our churches and those who might appear undeserving of God’s mercy. How might we extend God’s grace and mercy to those who are cast outside our doors? God wants to gather the outcasts alongside those who already gather in the house of prayer.
Prayer
God of Justice, teach us to welcome outcasts as we gather and worship you. Amen.