Ezekiel 37:3–5: “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’ Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.'”

September 30th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God showed His prophet Ezekiel a vision of a valley filled with dry bones and asked him, “Can these bones live?” This was God’s pledge to someday soon restore His people and the nation of Israel to life and spiritual regeneration. Of course had it been any other person asking the question, the answer would obviously have been of course not, but Ezekiel remembered who was asking and he gave a wise answer. This man of God recognized that nothing is out of the question with God, the God of the impossible.

This question is still a fascinating one for us today. In fact God asks every one of us, as His servants, to speak to dead men and women every day. Every time we care enough for the soul of an unbeliever to share the love of God with them, we are talking to dead men. According to the Apostle Paul, we also were once dead men and women: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” (Eph. 2:4–5, italics added).

Because we are now alive and saved, for good works, which God has prepared for us, we take steps of faith to share His love with others. Is it awkward? Yes, but when we are obedient and open our mouths, He begins to work. He alone can bring a person to salvation, but He clearly states that it is His desire that we would share the good news of the dead being made alive, with the many people surrounding us every day. So when we see someone walking down the sidewalk toward us today, we should not be surprised if we hear the voice of God speak a question to our hearts: “Son of man, can these bones live?” And our response should be as wise as the prophet Ezekiel’s was almost 2600 years ago, “O Lord God, You know.”

“LORD, we are eternally grateful for the salvation You have purchased for us, so we go in obedience and speak to dead men this day of Your love, in Jesus’ name.”