Stand in the Gap

Wow. Ezekiel was a prophet in Israel at a hard time to be following God! The priests, the government, and pretty much all the people were committing all sorts of evil. Nobody cared about God. God couldn’t find anyone to “stand in the gap‗to fill the void of righteousness in Israel (Ezekiel 22:30).

Sound familiar? Following God has always been hard because our world is broken by sin. When people and society as a whole reject Jesus, evil is accepted and encouraged, including by religious leaders who claim to be following God. It’s hard to find true, sincere, fully committed Christians—people who are determined to know God and follow Him with all of their hearts.

In this broken world, what does it mean to really follow God? What does it mean to “stand in the gapâ€? It’s an even harder question when you’re young and wondering, What can I do now? Good news: in Jesus’ kingdom, age is not important (1 Timothy 4:12).

But how do you stand in the gap in such a sin-filled world? By seeking Jesus, who is God (Titus 2:13). You stand in the gap by knowing Him, the One who is righteous (or sinless) even when your actions are not (1 John 1:9–2:1). You grow in your understanding of this good news by talking to God through prayer, studying the Bible (His Word), and regularly gathering with other Christians to worship Jesus and encourage each other in your pursuit of making Him the center of your lives.

If you’re a Christian, you are a part of the next generation of God’s people, who know and love Him and share the good news of His kingdom to a world that needs His rescue from all that is evil. • Christiana Cudworth

• Who are strong Christians you know—people who have centered their lives on Jesus? How can you follow their examples (Philippians 3:17)?

• Jesus is the One who stands in the gap for us. Without Him, we can’t stop sinning. But Jesus took God’s just wrath on Himself. Those who put their faith in Him are wrapped in His righteousness; it is like they have never sinned (Isaiah 59:16-19; Romans 3:22-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could these truths encourage you when you see sin in yourself and in the world?

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ezekiel 22:26-31