Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at Ezekiel 37: 7-10:

7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Today we look at one of the more amazing books in the Bible, Ezekiel. For many of the Jewish people, they believed that God would only speak in Israel, in the Holy Land, with the Temple. That is where they believed the glory of God resided, that is where God’s presence was. 

That is why this book is so amazing, it show’s that God’s power and presence are found in places other than just the Temple, but are found everywhere.  

Today, we see Ezekiel go into the valley of dry bones, and at God’s command, speak, and these dead bones come to life. Well, actually they are alive, but they are not living. It is not until he speaks breath into them, that they are alive.  

In Scripture, breath is always associated with God’s Spirit. Every time you see breath, you see the Spirit of God.  I think today’s text shows us a couple of important reminders. 

First, there is no situation that God can’t redeem. God brought these dead bones back to life. God created an army out of them. God, through His power and might, brought life from death. We are an Easter and a Resurrection people. We believe that there is nothing that God can’t redeem and can’t use. God can do anything, God can bring life from anything, God can restore anything.  There is nothing God can’t change and can’t restore. God brings life. 

But the second thing is this. What is life? We see in this passage the life is not existing. These bones existed. It wasn’t until the spirit of God came upon them that they lived.  To exist is not to live. Many of us are existing, going through the motions. But we aren’t living.  It isn’t until we are living via God’s spirit, following God’s path, living in the fullness of God, that we are living. 

Mistake existing for living.  We are not called merely to exist.  We are called to live. And that only happens through God’s spirit. 

Today, let’s live in His hope, His power, His resurrection, His Spirit.  Let’s more than just exist.  Let’s live.  

If you’d like to get each day’s daily scripture reading sent to your phone along with this reading guide, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up!