Dem Bones

"I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude." Ezekiel 37:10

This Sunday we hear the gospel story of the raising of Lazarus, which we will see is a "sermon illustration" for Jesus' statement, "I am the resurrection and the life." The first reading is related to that in that there is a resurrection of sorts. We will hear the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones.

There's a myriad of ways to allegorize that story, but this is how I read it today. The dry bones are our church "routines," the everyday business of the church--worship attendance, stewardship, Sunday School teaching, counting, committee work, etc. We've done them for so long they feel dry and dusty--like a bag of bones. But that is not what the Lord envisions.

God connects those dry bones back together--reuniting people and their ministries. He adds sinew and flesh--the meat of the word of God. And he breathes the spirit into the whole thing and we are revitalized for mission!

Have you been feeling bony and dry in the routines of church lately? Pray that God might make those dry bones live! So that we might live for others in our church, the community, and the world!

God, make these dry bones live! Amen