Mind the Gap, Part 1

If you have ever ridden a subway train in any country, you’ve seen the signs and heard the announcements to “mind the gap” when entering and exiting the train. These warnings refer to the gap between the platform and the train, which is a trip hazard and has the potential catch a heal or stroller wheel and get you stuck for a bit.

Christians have some gap-minding to do as well.

Ezekiel 22:29-30 [KJV] 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 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.

I believe that just as God sought someone to stand in the gap for the people of Israel during Ezekiel’s time, Christians are called to be the people who stand in the gap for the world today.

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up a hedge, and stand in the gap before Me…”

No gap-minder showed up for Israel, so God unleashed His indignation on them (verse 31).

What about we Christians today? Are we, as the people of God, standing the gap for a world filled with oppression and robbery – world that continually vexes (annoys, frustrates) the poorest and neediest among us? Or are we failing this world that needs us so desperately to advocate for mercy, even though it is worthy of the unleashing of God’s indignation upon it?

What does it look like to stand in the gap for this world?

It looks like pouring out love for them in prayers for mercy, peace and safety, rather than seeking the time of wrath and tribulation to punish them.

Far too many Christians today would be happy to see the fulfillment of Ezekiel 22:31 [NKJV] "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.”

Far too many, rather than having compassion on a world largely lost to sin, would seek to forbid sinners (at least certain types of sinners) from attending church or even refuse to bake them cakes or serve them in other ways.

Sisters, we are not called to judge this world. Luke 6:37 [NKJV] "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

We are called to show mercy. Matthew 5:7 [NKJV] “Blessed [are] the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

The world needs a champion to stand in the gap that sin has created. This world needs an advocate, until the day it is willing to accept the Champion and Advocate of us all – Jesus – as Savior and King.

Ezekiel indicates that had someone been found to stand in the gap, Israel would have been spared.

Sweet sisters, will you be a gap-minder for this world? Will you be a prayer warrior for mercy? Will you plead for mercy, love, peace and patience to be poured out from the Father? Or will you leave this world to “fire of God’s wrath” and destruction?

I’ll continue the theme of standing in the gap in my next blog. Until then, I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Becoming more childlike

When we think of becoming childlike, we often think of Matthew 18:1-4 [ESV] Where Jesus calls a child to Him and says, (verse 4) Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

We think of being childlike, we think of being as humble as a child and that is certainly important. There is so much that we can learn from children. Childlike humility is not the only thing.

In Luke 18:16-17 [NIV] we find another childlike trait we can emulate. In verse 17, Jesus says, Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

We are to receive the kingdom like a little child. How do little children receive things? Well, until they learn that some things are more valuable than others and that they should want the more valuable things, children receive all gifts with equal appreciation. Whether it is a $500 remote control jeep they can ride around the neighborhood in or a $2.00 bottle of bubble solution and a cheap wand.

By contrast, adults tend to want the best gifts, even when it comes to the spiritual ones. God does not rank gifts. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 12 He says they are all essential to the health of the spiritual body. But humans rank the gifts. The gift of prophesy is certainly given more weight in many church cultures than simple, steadfast faith.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

However, after chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians wraps up with 31, which says, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”, chapter 13 specifically says that knowing prophesy doesn’t matter if love is not the motivator of it. Love is the more excellent way than any gift we might covet.

One more way to be like a child is to be joyful. Unless they are in dire circumstances, children are typically able to find joy in all activities. They eat with relish and joy. They find joy in coloring, swinging, running around, playing on the playground, jumping in puddles and in music – just to name a few. They don’t need fancy things to find joy.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5]. We were meant to have childlike joy. The word “joy” appears 165 times in the Bible.

So, we must be humble like a child, and we must receive all gifts with equal appreciation, just like children do and we should be joyful like children.

Recently, for our Friday night online program, Start Our Sabbath, I gave a presentation about being childlike and asked the viewers to offer additional qualities of children that we should immolate – additional ways we should be childlike.

Here are some things they came up with:

·       Children are curious. They ask questions and really want to know the answers.

·       Children are forgiving. They don’t hold grudges.

·       Innocence is a childlike trait.

The Bible counsels us to be every-learning (curious) [2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Peter 3:18], to forgive others readily and repeatedly [Luke 6:37; 17:4] and to be without guile (innocence) [1 Peter 2:1; Revelation 14:5].

Sweet sisters, we would do well to learn from and imitate these characteristics of children. Let’s strive to be more childlike.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can comment here or write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org