Posts Tagged ‘Ezekiel’

Rise Again!

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

To say these folks felt bone weary is an understatement. The Israelites were more than just overtired and exhausted. They were dead…’way dead, and the valley filled with old, dry bones proved it. Life was gone and with it, all hope. But everything changed when the Spirit of the Lord showed up. Ezekiel 37:10 says, “They all came to life and stood up on their feet – a great army of them.”

What an amazing scene that must have been. And what an amazing message it carries! If you’re struggling in a difficult situation today and you feel as though all hope is gone…this message is for you, my friend. Read God’s words to you:

“O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

These three verses are packed with promises:

  • God will open our graves and cause us to rise again! Even when all hope is gone, He wants to breathe life into our battle-weary souls and set us on our feet. Nothing, not even death, can defeat Him or His purposes.
  • God will bring us back to the land of Israel. In this context, it means He’ll fulfill His grand purpose for our lives.
  • God will put His Spirit in us. That happens when we enter a relationship with Jesus Christ and trust Him for our salvation. His Spirit living in us means His presence is with us 24/7. We’re never alone – how reassuring is that?
  • God will reveal Himself to us. Seemingly impossible situations are opportunities for Him to work mightily on our behalf, and when He does, we get to know Him more intimately. We understand that He truly is God.

Do you feel like you’re living in the Valley of Dry Bones? Hang in there, my friend! God has no intention of leaving you there. He will cause you to rise again and will fulfill His purposes for your life. He will put His Spirit within you, and you’ll get to know Him more intimately. He said it…and I believe it’s true. Do you?

Have you ever felt as though you were in the Valley of Dry Bones? If so, did you see the above promises fulfilled in your life? How?

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Illogical Behavior

Friday, November 6th, 2009

People are a fascinating species, really. Sometimes they do the most illogical things and then wonder why they run into trouble.

The other day I heard about an unmarried couple who knelt by a bed and asked God to bless their relationship moments before they crawled into the sack together. Like, what’s with that? How can they honestly think He’ll smile and condone what they’re doing when they’re blatantly going against His Word?

We might tsk-tsk this couple’s behavior, but I’ll bet we do similar things. How about speeding all the way to church so we’re not late for the worship service? Or withholding tithes and offerings from the Lord and then asking Him to provide our needs financially? Or backbiting someone who’s hurt us and then asking God to heal the relationship?

Our strange behavior isn’t new. It’s been around for generations – you can read about it in Ezekiel 14:3-4. Here’s what God said about it – “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin. Why should I let them ask me anything? Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I, the Lord, will punish the people of Israel who set up idols in their heart so they fall into sin and then come to a prophet asking for help.”

Hmmm. Looks like God makes no promises about answering the prayers of those who turn their backs on Him, fall into sin, and then come crying for help with no intention of changing their ways. It’s illogical to expect Him to feel otherwise. After all, why should He bless the relationship of a couple that’s having sex outside of marriage when He’s forbidden it in His Word? Why should He protect me from accidents and speeding tickets as I race to church when He tells me to obey the laws of the land? Why should He bless me financially if I’m not giving Him what He owns in the first place?

Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. Have we established idols there? Have we embraced things that have led us into sin? Are we expecting God to help us or bless us in the midst of this behavior? If so, it’s time to turn around and do things God’s way. Then, and only then, can we expect His richest blessing

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Give Me a Tender Heart

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

It’s funny how kids’ personalities are so different even when raised in the same household. One child, for instance, can have a steel will. When reprimanded, he’ll stomp from the room and slam a door behind him for emphasis. He’ll drive his parents to their knees, leaving them begging God for wisdom and patience and self-control.

Then along comes a sibling. This one doesn’t need a verbal rebuke for wrong doing. A parent simply needs to cast a disapproving glance his way, and he crumbles. The mere thought of displeasing his folks is enough to make him walk the straight and narrow way.

Ezekiel 11:19,20 says, “I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. And I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people and I will be their God.”

Some people, like the steel-willed child, have hearts of stone. They’re stubborn, rebellious, and insolent. They could care less what God wants or says because they’re bent on doing life their way. In contrast, others have tender hearts. They’re sensitive to spiritual matters and eager to please the Lord. If they do wrong, they’re quick to correct their ways because they can’t bear His displeasure or grief.

In all honesty, I confess to occasionally struggling with a heart of stone, but God’s workin’ on me in that regard. Slowly, but surely, He’s tenderizing me with an ever-growing understanding of how sweet it is to walk in His ways. More and more, I’m finding freedom and joy in submitting to His laws and regulations. There’s sheer delight in knowing that I’m bringing Him pleasure rather than causing Him grief by stomping from His presence and slamming the door behind me. I’m so thankful for His patience and perseverance in my life.

How are you doing in this regard? Is your heart like stone, or is it tender and eager to obey God? I pray it’s the latter so you can experience His richest blessings.

“Father, thank You for wanting relationship with us. Thank You for caring enough about us to tell us how to live so we can enjoy the richest, deepest relationship possible. Remove our hearts of stone and exchange them for tender hearts. Give us sensitivity to Your Spirit and Your voice. Give us a desire to please you in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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