January 24 - Stand In The Gap

Ezekiel 22:30
"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”
 
This prophetical passage is very applicative to the world we live in today. The Lord is still seeking for His people to make up the hedge and stand in the gap to make a difference in the midst of all the turmoil around us.
 
I’m not sure which part is more convicting… the plea to stand in the gap for the cause of Christ, or the thought that there is going to come a day when there won’t be anyone willing to do so.
 
In chapter three of 2 Timothy, Paul talks about the apostasy that will be upon the earth in the last days. He mentions how “men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” The last four words of verse 5 tell us what we should do when those around us are worthy of those descriptions… “from such turn away.”
 
God wants us to love the sinner while hating the sin.
He is calling for someone to stand in the gap for the land in which we live.
 
Jesus Christ Himself referred to such an apostasy in Luke 18 asking, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” after He told the parable about the unjust judge.
 
The adjectives Paul used to describe the apostasy sound very familiar to the society that we live in. I believe such an apostasy has already begun here in America, and it is even creeping into our churches.
 
Is there anyone willing to stand in the gap today?
Someone who is willing to lose their life so that He may save it.
Someone who will make a difference for His glory.
May we all consider what we can do to stand in the gap as a witness for Him for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
 
​
Bible Reading:
Genesis 47-48  |  Matthew 3  |  Proverbs 24