There is something in renewal and rebirth that is intriguing to people. While there is no shortage of books and speakers who will try to encourage you to improve yourself, each one of these self-help resources seem to focus on taking something weak and making it strong. God doesn't just take people who are weak; God takes and renews the dead.
There is a song by Rend Collective Experiment called "Desert Soul" that makes me think about how God brings us all to life. One verse says, "I'm lost without your creative spark in me; Recreate me! I'm dead inside, unless your resurrection sings." What an image of the power of God in our lives.
In the Bible we see God using the same metaphor to show his power to Ezekiel. He calls out to Ezekiel to prophesy to dry bones and to call them back to life.
"This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord." [...] "You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. The mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Ezekiel 37:5-6, 13-14)
What a picture of God's unlimited ability to breathe new life into even the most dead things.
So much of our lives centers around trying to meet certain standards and live up to the world's expectations. Work this job. Get this degree. Be this type of parent. Have this kind of house. There is no shortage of people and institutions who will tell you exactly who you should be. God instead tells you who he can make you. He can breathe life into the dead, which is exactly what we are without God. He gives us life when the world promises us death. He gives us hope when society gives us judgment.
Be happy; even if you are nothing more than dry bones, God and speak even dry bones into new life!
DEVOTIONAL PRAYER
A Prayer for New Life
God, you are a God of life... new life, renewed life, eternal life. Sometimes we all feel as useless as dry bones or just feel spiritually parched. Help use us even in our weakened or dead state and breath us into something glorious for your kingdom. We pray this in your Son's name, Amen.
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