Can These Bones Live?
The hand of the Lord was on Ezekiel, and the Spirit set him down in a valley full of bones. Not a few. A great many, and very dry. Then came the question: “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel did not pretend to know. He answered, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know” (Ezekiel 37:1-3).
Have you ever had the hand of the Lord upon you? Have you ever been brought out by His Spirit? Are we even meant to ask such things? We are. Scripture says “we have not because we ask not” (James 4:2). The bravest thing a believer can do is stand in the valley of his own dry places and ask God what only He can answer.
Christ came and died that we might live, and live abundantly (John 10:10). Hear that closely. We have been afforded the opportunity, as human beings, to die and be transformed into spiritual beings. Human beings live to die. Spiritual beings die to live. That is what the water declared: buried with Him in baptism, we were raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and now we die to the flesh that our spirit may live (Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20).
This is not about barely existing. It is about thriving. It is about learning to see the unseen, to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 4:18, 5:7), to discern Kingdom things the flesh could never reach, and to live in a way that brings honor and glory to our Father in heaven.
Here is the part we rush past. The bones came together, bone to bone, tendon and flesh, and still they were not alive. Not until Ezekiel prophesied to the breath. Then the Spirit entered them, and they stood on their feet, a vast army (Ezekiel 37:10).
Assembled is not the same as alive. Religion can arrange the bones. Only the Spirit gives the breath.
So let the hand of the Lord rest on you. Let His Spirit call you out. Stop settling for a faith that only exists to make a wish and step into the abundant life Christ died to give you and me.
A Question to Sit With This Week: Where have I settled for assembled bones, going through the motions, when God is inviting me to receive His breath through the Spirit and truly live?