June 13: The Life-Breathing Spirit, Part 2

“4Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live’…14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.” –Ezekiel 37.4-5, 14a
Here’s the hope that these bones need! In Ezekiel 37.3 God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live. Ezekiel is unwilling to say that they can’t, because he knows that it is ultimately in the Lord’s hands. His response is, “O, Lord God, you know.”
But, where once there were dry, dead bones, fully living humans arise from the dust. And did you see the means by which these bones came to life? It was not by Ezekiel’s creativity; it was not by intelligent philosophy; it was not by the work of Ezekiel or the bones themselves; it was not by prayer to any special spirit; and it wasn’t even because the bones really wanted to be alive. These bones live because God breathes His Spirit into them as Ezekiel speaks the truth of God’s Word to them.
How do we come alive? By hearing and believing the truth of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me…has passed from death to life.” (John 5.24-25)
1. How does this change the way you think about doing evangelism? What is it you are looking for and relying on when you desire for a non-Christian to believe in Christ?
2. How does it give you hope and comfort to know that God has breathed His very Spirit into you to make you spiritually alive? Thank God that one day He will resurrect your body by His Spirit as well (1 Corinthians 15).