Standing in the Gap

by Rusty Stowe - Senior Adult Minister

In the Old Testament book Ezekiel, we read this: “And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me and the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (22:30) If you did not know it, we are at the very end of “football” season. In Oklahoma we know there are 5 seasons – Spring, Winter, Summer, Fall and FOOTBALL! Coaches and players have spent most of this season developing offensive plays to score touchdowns and they have been looking at new defensive strategies to keep opposing teams from scoring their own touchdowns. One way they do this is to find good linebackers that can learn to fill the “gaps” created by the maneuvers of the defensive linemen. It takes a very special talent to be good at playing linebacker. Every now and then a player gets hurt, we have seen that just this weekend and another player must step in and take over the responsibilities of that position. He must adapt to his job immediately. Talk about pressure!

In this passage in Ezekiel, God indicates that He has some openings for those who want to stand in the gap for Him. Jesus is the man in the gap for us. Because of sin there has been a great gulf fixed between man and God so it is Jesus who joins man with God. Jesus is the ONLY person who has the qualifications necessary. Jesus is the only person who could “fill the gap.”

We have several people who “fill the gaps” when our “starters” cannot go! Jon Duncan has stepped in to fill in the gap while we search for our next Minister of Music. Some of you have stepped in to fill the gap of helping Steve Rowland while Clyde is recovering from knee surgery. We have people teaching Sunday School lessons each week for our regulars who are dealing with sickness. We do a pretty good job of stepping up when a need arises. But we should never become lazy in our service to the Lord.

Seek ways for God to use you as we move forward into the future.