Loving God #7—Happy in Prayer

For non-Israelites who love my name and want to serve me––all who genuinely observe the Sabbath as they uphold my covenant––I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them happy in their prayer to me. For my dwelling place will be known as a dwelling where all peoples may pray. Isaiah 56:6–7

Regardless of our background, the Lord welcomes us as subjects in his kingdom and priests in his temple. Indeed, he assumed humanity, lived sinlessly, died confidently, and rose victoriously so that he could “acquire individuals from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” who will follow him in the obedience of faith and pour out our hearts in prayer. This gospel is glorious because in it we see that God exerts his power to save everyone of us who entrusts our future to him, regardless of our ethnic or cultural antecedents. He strongly desires that we love him for this integrity and fairness. One significant way we can demonstrate our love for him is to signal our reliance on his providence by celebrating his Sabbath rest—the day most precious to God because it signifies his satisfaction with all of his efforts to make creation be a place where we can experience and enjoy his glory. We can do this specifically by physically resting from our work, and generally by living loyally inside the framework of his promises to work for our good. When we set our hearts to enter his rest, the Lord himself will ensure our safe arrival so all of us who love him will have happily unhindered access to his bounty.

Sovereign Lord, hasten the day when I can join the throng as we ascend to worship where you live.