Day 11 - 21 Days of Prayer Devotional

21 Days of Prayer DAY 11 - 2 Chronicles 30:18-20 18 Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, "May the Lord, who is good, pardon those 19 who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony." 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people. CONSIDER THE CONTEXT Hezekiah was one of the Kings of Israel. He did much to restore the Kingdom to it's glorious ways by returning to the foundation of worship and respect of the Lord. His reign was marked by many powerful turns toward the Lord and the nation prospered as a result. During the celebration of the Passover, Hezekiah realized that many of the participants from far off had not had the chance to purify themselves as was the law before partaking of the Passover meal. Hezekiah prays for the people and God responds in a big way. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS Think of your neighbor right now. Do they know the Lord? The people Hezekiah prayed for were just as disconnected and just an unworthy to participate in the celebrations of their Church as your unbelieving neighbor is today. Hezekiah was an anomaly for his time. He believed it wasn't through the efforts of man that make us clean but through the power of God. Hezekiah also realized that that power can only be touched through prayer. Want to see lives changed? Don't rely on the Church to do the work of getting the good news of the gospel to your neighbor. Pray for them and see what God does with those prayers. CONSIDER THE PRAYER Jesus, touch my neighbors. Save them Lord. Give them a heart of knowing you and bring them closer. Lord help me to see how you want me to be a part of bringing my neighbor into the celebration of the knowledge of you. Show me how to participate with my Church so that we can be your loving touch to all of our neighbors. I also pray that my neighbor will find the same kind of connection at Coastline that I have found. Empower us all to welcome those different than ourselves - the unclean - into our midst so that they too can enjoy the wonderful celebration of knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.