Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap for me… but I found none.”
One of my sons is coming into town today, and in my morning devotional time, I was reminded of a special moment with him — the kind of moment that makes a parent proud and deeply thankful to God.
One Saturday morning we went out for breakfast at a local restaurant. He was about 20 years old at that time. There was a waitress there we'd become acquainted from past breakfasts at this restaurant. As our conversations grew more open, we had the opportunity to share the Lord with her. Because we had taken the time to be kind and get to know her simply, she opened up to us about something close to her heart — her young son’s health.
She told us that doctors were concerned he might have a serious disease and were running tests. When we asked if we could pray for him, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She was thrilled we cared enough to pray. We prayed right then, and it touched her heart!
A few weeks later, we came back for breakfast, and as soon as she saw us, she beamed. "I’ve been hoping you'd come back! I wanted to thank you for your prayers and share the good news. My son doesn’t have the disease they feared. He’s going to be fine! I’ve been waiting to tell you because you’re one of the few people who’s ever offered to pray!"
We were thrilled for her and continued praying for her. Moments like that remind you how small acts of faithfulness open doors and touch lives.
While we were eating, my son Peter caught me up on his job. "Dad, I work with this one guy. He isn’t the brightest, and it’s probably held him back from promotions. But he’s the nicest guy I’ve ever worked with. He’s got two kids and doesn’t make much money. His shoes are so worn out they’re falling apart. I’m going to buy him a new pair."
At that moment, my heart swelled with gratitude for who my son was becoming. He was a college student who also worked many hours just to get by! He didn't have extra money sitting around. Even so, he saw someone else’s need and decided to meet it. It felt like everything I’d tried to impart to him over the years was being lived out right there over breakfast. He had grabbed hold of a simple but powerful truth: one person can make a difference, even if it’s just touching one life at a time.
If Jesus taught us anything — and of course, He taught us so much — it’s that one person can make a tremendous difference in the life of others. Jesus' life on earth is the greatest example we will ever know of that truth. Many people want to make a significant impact. They imagine grand acts of kindness, yet because they can’t do something grandiose, they do nothing at all. That’s such a shame. The truth is, people make the biggest difference by doing small things every day for others.
James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." We should understand that when we feel prompted to do something good for someone, it’s likely that God is steering our hearts. In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul reminds us, "...what do you have that you did not receive (from God)? Whatever good thing we have, it's because we've received it from God. When we are willing to bless others, we learn the heart of God and open our lives to so much more of His blessing in our own lives! That is a fact and a spiritual truth to know!
Jesus teaches there’s great blessing in doing good quietly. Making a difference is a daily opportunity — showing kindness, offering moral support, taking time to pray for someone, or giving of your resources. These small acts matter to the point of helping change someone's life! Wow!
In today’s Fresh Manna verse, we see God’s heart cry out for someone to stand in the gap — someone willing to be used, even in small ways, especially starting with prayer and then with our resources! Changing the whole world begins by trusting God to lead you to change someone’s day.
That’s what made me so proud of my son. He’s learning this truth. And God wants all of us to walk it out, standing in the gap, one person at a time.
Matthew 6:3-4 says, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
