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6 And 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—
7 these 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. (Isaiah 56:6-7 NRSV)

Lent is a time of reflection. We reflect upon the passion and death of Jesus Christ. We reflect upon Jesus’ passion and death. We also reflect upon the reason of Jesus’ passion and death and for whom Jesus died? The last sentence of Isaiah 56:7 says they are the “all people.” When Isaiah proclaimed that “God’s house is the house of prayer of all people,” he is talking about the people mentioned in verse 6. These people have two characteristics. First they keep the Sabbath. Then they hold fast God’s covenant. These two characteristics is a general idea of the kind of people Isaiah talked about. All people are the people who wants to follow God and the people who submit to God’s commands. Isaiah did not mention their ethnicity, identity, nor even their measure of faith. God deems favorable the willingness to follow. God does not measure us with a ruler to see if we are up to a certain high standard. He just considers if we desire the standard. This people is the gentiles in verse 6, the all people in verse 7. The sacrifices and prayers they offer will be gladly accepted by God.

The way God treats “all people” is the blueprint He uses to treat us. When I dig deep into my heart and ask, “Can I attain God’s standard of holiness and righteousness? Can I attain God’s standard of love and mercy?” The answer should be negative if I am honest to myself. Even Paul said he is the foremost sinners among all sinners. But God has proclaimed, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” Surely God will listen to my prayer, just anyone who is willing to pray. Shall we come to the Lord and pray, “Oh Lord my God, accept my prayer, accept whatever small deed we have done for you, small goodness we have done to my fellow human beings. Whenever we pray, you will grant me joy. Lord Jesus, I thank you! I pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.”