Stand Firm in The Gap
Author: Steve Troxel
In the final years of the southern kingdom of Israel, during the time of Jeremiah, God warned He was going to use the king of Babylon to discipline the people unless they returned to Him with a heart of worship. The people failed to repent and the invasion of Jerusalem began.
Ezekiel was a prophet to those taken captive during the Babylonian attacks. Through Ezekiel, God explained why He was allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed. He said the priests in Jerusalem had failed to uphold His law: "They do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean." (Ezekiel 22:26). In addition, God said the prophets were covering up the sins of the priests: "They whitewash their deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations." (Ezekiel 22:28).
God searched, but found no one who was willing to lead the people into a life of pure and holy worship – a life which recognized God as Lord of ALL and prayed without ceasing for His guidance and protection. Ezekiel 22:30-31 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger."
As in the days of Ezekiel, Spiritual walls are crumbling all around us. We have whitewashed sin and lost our passion for holiness, resulting in many lives filled with Spiritual gaps - areas vulnerable to attack by the enemy.
We must repair our own walls through repentance, forgiveness, and daily drawing nearer to the presence of God. But we must also look for "gaps" in the walls of those around us and commit to standing firm with prayer, encouragement, and time (and whatever else it takes!), until their strength returns and their walls are repaired.
How long should we "stand?" For as long as it takes! We must stand in the gap for as long as it takes the relationship of a friend to be restored, for the loved one to accept Christ, or for the prodigal child to return. God's words through Ezekiel are harsh; but God didn't give up on the people until ALL the people gave up on each other. It's not too late if we continue in prayer; there is still hope if we will stand firm in the gap. Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel - God's Daily Word
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“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.” -Ezekiel 22:30
Source : Sherry's Inspirational
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