“The Dry Bones Live.” As I looked at this header in my Bible and read from Ezekiel 37, I couldn’t help but think of the spiritual dryness I have experienced in my life. But an entire
valley of dry, dead bones? What a gruesome scene the Lord provided for the prophet – and us – today.
The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” (Ezekiel 37:1-3, NLT)
Ezekiel knew that without God the situation laid out before him was impossible. But with God, nothing was impossible! God, of course, had the situation well in hand, yet He asked
Ezekiel to state what he believed. He asks the same of you and me. What do we believe about our hopeless situations? What is the solution for the hopelessness and “dry bones”
many Christians live with today?
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37:4-6)
God commanded Ezekiel and His people to listen to His Word – the very Word that breathes life into each of our souls! When Ezekiel acted on God’s command…
“There was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. (Ezekiel 27:7-8)
We can, as individuals, and as the body of believers, appear somewhat lifelike, but not really be alive. We who profess to know Jesus sometimes forget His power and find ourselves blaming and complaining because our strength just isn’t enough.
However, when we remember that it is the Lord and Him only Who sets the standard, Who so graciously saves, and Who breathes new life into us, it is at that point we come to our knees to be truly empowered by His Spirit.
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” (Ezekiel 37:9)
Are you allowing God’s Word to breathe life into your bones? Are you living with the knowledge and hope of His promises? If you are, praise God! But if you need some help in that area, it would be wise to be held accountable and encouraged to act on God’s promises each and every day.
That’s the idea behind our new Daily Pulse, a web tool that measures and tracks your spiritual pulse on a daily basis, giving you feedback and recommending Scripture and teaching personalized to your specific needs. The results, as we have tracked them through our research, and as the Bible tells us, are quite amazing.
So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. (Ezekiel 37:10)
If God transformed an entire valley of dry bones into a living, breathing army of spiritual power, think about what He can do for our nation, our churches and each of us as individuals.
Today, ask God to breathe His life into yours. Remember, the Word of God is alive, and even dry bones can live and become part of a great army! What is the solution for
the hopelessness and “dry bones” many Christians live with today?