Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Mind the Gap.

We returned home from London on Sunday. 

Each time we boarded the tube to traverse the city, or exited to see new things, a recording would say, "Mind the gap."  There were signs that reminded people, as well as refrigerator magnets and other memorabilia.  This is important because people have gotten their feet caught in the gap between the train and the platform, and injury occurs when the train departs. 

Evin and I were standing in a check-out line in London, and it hit me that there had to be at least a devotional in this slogan since I could not shake the phrase.  What fun that would be! 

Suddenly there it was!  And it was a restatement of one of my callings.

As pray-ers for prodigals, we are called to "mind the gap!" 

Ezekiel 22:30 says, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." 

We are to make walls to protect our loved ones.  We are to stand in the gap for them in prayer.  I never want it to be said of me that I missed an opportunity to "mind the gap." 

This is something I can do. 

While we were in Paris, I did miss an opportunity.  I saw an young man sitting on a wall with a t-shirt that read, "No Hope Left."  That struck me hard.  I have been praying that I would be the answer to someone else's prayer to be a witness to his or her prodigal, but I missed this opportunity, partly because of fear.  I walked away without sharing that there is hope in Jesus.  I am ashamed and very sorry.  I have apologized to God, and I have prayed for that young man repeatedly, but I never want to miss that opportunity again.  Lesson learned. 

Let's look for opportunities to not only mind the gap in prayer, but to mind the gap for the prodigals of others through a helping hand, outright witnessing, and being an example of godly joy and peace. 

Mind the gap!