Slideshow image

Day 16: Ezekiel

Read: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Think: Ezekiel was a prophet (someone called by God to speak on behalf of God to His people (the Israelites). God spoke to Ezekiel in visions. Even if God doesn’t give us literal dreams, we all need vision in our lives to see things the way God does. God’s people (Israel) were exiled from their homeland, had no king, and no temple to worship God. They got into this mess because they were divided and not following God’s commands. It would have been almost impossible to imagine how this situation could be remedied, but God gave Ezekiel this vision to give him hope that the God we serve can bring even the driest of dead bones back to life again. What’s dead around you? How is God speaking to you now about His plan to redeem it?

Hope: The truth is that we were once like the dead bones in this story. Our sin separated us from God and we were hopeless to fix it, but “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) Jesus brought us from death to life when He died on the cross and was raised again three days later.

Pray: God, as I look around this world, there are so many dry bones. Things seem hopeless. Thank you for the reminder today that you can even save the person who seems the furthest from you. Like Ezekiel, help me to believe it and be a part of the resurrection story you are telling right now!

Apply: Share a word of encouragement with someone today. Maybe write some cards for neighbors, or a retirement home. Get real fancy and go sing carols in your neighborhood!