“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.” 2 Chronicles 30:18-20
I was raised in a BaptiCostal family. Half of my family attended the Church of God and the other half worshiped at the Baptist church down the road. But we all came together after church for dinner and some of the best memories a child could ever have. Of course, when one aunt would show up with lipstick on another would cite scripture against it, then the first would bring another verse that seemed to be for it, and it was just fun to watch the comparisons of belief. But in the end, we all blessed our food and ate the country fried chicken, biscuits and green beans together. It didn’t seem to matter that the denominations were led to different life beliefs, the fact was, my family loved God and each other. Their hearts were pure.
I believe that is what was happening at this Passover. Hezekiah saw people from all over the country coming in to worship the One True Living God and it didn’t matter that they had not been ceremonially cleansed according to what the Law said, their hearts were pure and they united as one in the Name of the Lord.
“For Hezekiah said, ‘May the Lord, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony. And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.”
Now, that would be my Uncle Paris. LOL He was a preacher and would have been the one to pray for all the people, because he loved them as God loved them. That is what true Christian love is. Seeing others as God sees them and not seeing them in respect to what they believe in their denomination. Loving them regardless of whether or not they raise their hands in praise or quietly praise God in their closets. I want to feel that love. I want to see others as God sees them and not judge them on how they serve Him. I want to see them in respect to the purity of their belief in the Father, our Creator. I want to see them through the eyes of Jesus who gave His life for all mankind that they may enter the presence of God. And through the eyes of the Holy Spirit leading me into honesty of discernment.
And I pray, Lord, that other believers see me the same way.
Heart Notes of Life 