As Ezra prepared to lead Godβs people back to the Promised Land after the Babylonian captivity, he had plenty of money to buy animals for sacrifice in the newly rebuilt temple (Ezra 7:11-17), but no Levites to offer them (8:15).
This reminds me of the situation in our own day. Grace churches frequently have enough money to serve the Lord, but no men willing to offer their bodies as βa living sacrificeβ to God (Rom. 12:1). Will you be [or do you know] such a man, willing to serve Him in the ministry? Iβm reminded of the Lordβs lament to men of God in Ezekielβs day:
βYe have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORDβ (Ezek. 13:5).
As grace pastors retire and others go to be with the Lord, there are always going to be gaps that need to be filled in the front lines of the battle for truth. If God is speaking to your heart about championing the cause of Paulβs gospel, why not say with Isaiah, βHere am I; send meβ (Isa. 6:8). source
