Sat.’s Devo - Can These Bones Live?

Read: Ezekiel 37:1-38-23; James 1:19-2:17; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 28:1 God took Ezekiel to a valley filled with bones and led him around among the bones scattered on the valley floor. God asked him if these bones could become living people again. Ezekiel said that only God could know that. *** Then God told him to prophesy over the bones and tell them to live again. He prophesied flesh and muscles on them and breath in their lungs. Suddenly as he spoke it, the bones started coming together and becoming a skeleton. muscles and flesh formed over the bones but they still had no breath. *** God told him to prophesy to the winds to breathe into the dead bodies so that they might live again. Breath came into their bodies and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a great army. God said that these people represented the people of Israel. They had become old dry bones with no hope, but God would open the graves of the exiles and cause them to rise again. He would bring them back to Israel. They would then know that He was the Lord. He would put his Spirit in them. *** Next, God told him to take two pieces of wood and carve “For Judah” and on the other “For Joseph”. They were to represent the two divided kingdoms of Israel. He was to join them together as one stick in his hand. This was to show that the two kingdoms had become one kingdom. They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and transgressions. God would cleanse them and they will be his people and he would be their God. David, his servant would be king over them a they shall have one shepherd. They would walk in obedience to God. *** God would make a covenant of peace with them that would last forever. *** In Chapter 38, God tells Ezekiel to turn toward the north and prophesy to Gog and Magog and tell them that his is their enemy. God was going to put hooks in his mouth and lead him and his whole army. Persia, Ethiopia and Libya would join them with all the armies of Beth-togarmah who lived in the distant north. *** When Israel is recovering from war and enjoying peace and the people have returned from many lands, they (the enemy) would roll down from the north with a wicked plan to attack Israel in her vulnerable state. God will retaliate against them with torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur. All the nations of the world will watch and know that God is the Lord. *** James dealt with anger and hypocrisy. He said that if you can’t control your tongue then your religion is worthless in God’s sight. Pure religion in God’s sight means caring for orphans and widows in distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. *** Having discrimination when it comes to people and their wealth shows that your judgments are guided by evil motives. Some of the poorest in the world are richest in faith and will inherit the Kingdom he promised. True faith produces good deeds. *** Lord may our faith lead us to good works for your Kingdom. May the dry bones of our world come alive in Your Spirit.