Friday Devotional:

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]



"I'd be a Christian if it were not for the Christians." One of Mohandas Gandhi's most famous quotes, it came from a painful and all-too-familiar experience. A practicing Hindu, Gandhi decided to visit a church in Kolkata. He was stopped at the door and told he was not welcome, as this church was for high-caste Indians and whites only.

Experiences like his are still too common. When I ask non-Christians what comes to mind when they think of Christianity, so often the answers are things like"colonialism, racism, homophobia." But this is not the type of devotion God demands. Neither does the God of scripture want us to be shrinking violets, saying nothing. Rather, God calls us to cause a ruckus on behalf of those in the most need. As you engage the news this week, look for stories of people being denied access to basic physical and social needs. How might you use your voice to get their stories heard?

God of justice, empower us to show your love by caring for those society casts aside. Amen.



An excerpt from Christ in our Home

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