Purified Lips
Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
Zephaniah 3:9 (NIV)
God promises: I will purify peoples' lips, that all may invoke the Lord's name serving shoulder to shoulder. Purification's purpose is united worship. Dirty lips divide; purified ones unite. God cleans mouths filling services. Pentecost reversed Babel: diverse tongues, one invoked Name.
That all may call: purification holds missionary aim. Clean lips call upon the Lord instead of cursing. Washed tongues' purpose is proclamation. Nations blaspheming will pray. God washes sending: Isaiah's touched lips departed. The purified proclaim; proclaimers reap.
And serve shoulder to shoulder: literally. Final purpose is united service. Individual worship prepares universal cooperation. Enemy peoples will serve together. Purification topples walls before raising altars. God's future: multilingual liturgy, unanimous service, single glory.
Today, ask purified lips: confess foul words, cancel murmurings, wash mouths at fountains. Invoke the Name with clean lips serving shoulder to shoulder with different brothers. Today's witness anticipates nations' choirs. Today's lips, eternal liturgy.
And invoke purified: washed lips unite peoples. Invoke purified today. Washed lips unite. Call His name. Serve united. Sing together. Sing together and serve united. Worship multilingual. Praise one Name. Unite. Unite hearts and blend voices. Adore forever. Shout glory.