Lenten Devo #16—

"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offspring." (Zephaniah 3:9-10)

God will one day gather to himself a people from all the nations. And those who deny him shall confess that he is Lord. Their speech will be made pure, speaking what is true about him, and their conduct will be united to that of the people of God, worshiping him in truth.

And this, too, is the work of God's people, those who have already come to know him and to confess his Lordship. He employs us to gather the peoples from all the nations, to draw them in.

Jesus said that whoever does not gather with him scatters. That means being active, sharing our faith, inviting those who do not know Jesus to come and worship the one true God.

But it also means praying. In fact, the first thing is to pray. Because, though we would seek to gather, in the end it is the Lord who will change the speech of the peoples, who will purify their language and deeds. It is our prayers, our gathering; but it is his power and his glory.

Our prayers, then, can be made with great confidence. For the Lord of the harvest sends us out to gather.

Who are you praying for?