Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Of all the stories of scripture this is one that always leaves me in wonder. Can you imagine walking out to a valley filled with bodies. The flesh long decayed or scavenged, and the bones bleached by the sun and driving winds. Of course it is a vision of a ancient battle lost the defeat so devestated the nation that the survivors were unable or unwilling to even venture to the plain to bury their fallen brothers. Then after years, God calls His prophet Ezekiel to go down to this place.
The pain it must have caused this man to be forced to remember the past. At times we do need to revisit the past, not to live there but to examine it, see what happened in those distant days that are still holding on to or present lives. God asks the prophet can these bones live? I am struck by how deeply this question strikes at me. So much of the past has devistated our lives. Many live with wounds caused by abuses enacted on them by the ones that were supposed to love them. Others are plauged with the residue of poor choices made years prior. Can these bones live?
Do we believe that God can bring life and healing into the areas of life that are filled with death and still tender wounds? If we consider the background of this story we would be reminded of the fall and excile of the Hebrew people. They wonder will they again live in their land, will God still be with them and be their God, or will they become bleached bones left to errode in the sands of time. God tells the prophet to cry out to thes dry bones. To tell them that God will breath life into them and they will live.
God can do amazing things. I do believe tha he can breath life into anything and anyone. I think of so many broken people and churhces I have known in the past, and that God has given new life to. I have seen communities filled with pain, but given hope through God. They have a new life, a life that resembles the past but is not consumed by it.
As you pray today and meditate on scripture, consider your own life and where you are putting your faith. Remember these bones, the man could do nothing for them, yet God brought them back to life. We have hope in God through Jesus. Let Him breath life in your soul and rise and walk.
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
What kind of faith would it take for a saint to thank God for you? Have you ever wondered about that. Seriously, think about your favorite ministry in the world: Focus on the Family, Let my People Think, The Bible Answer Man, or about a million others. Now what would be going on in your life for that main spokesman to say I thank God for you?
Now I do not think we should be doing things to get recognition, but it is perfectly fine to be recognized. Paul was probably the most energetic missionary in the early Church, he went all over the know world to spread the Gospel so pretty much every area knew who he was. To be noticed by someone you think is great is some of the greatest encouragement to receive. I know this in my own life. I was recently nominated to be the Elder for our area in our Yearly Meeting, for mosto you that know very little of Friends traditions the Yearly Meeting is like the head of the denomination. There are several Yearly Meetings in the United States, each functions independently of the others, but there is usually some partnerships. The Yearly Meeting is all of the Monthly Meetings meeting together once a year to do cooperative ministry. Ok enough of the lession if you want to know more feel free to ask, but what I am getting at is I was nominated by someone I have the greatest resect for. A pastor who I see as being the ideal pastor. To be nominated as one of elder of an area in which this person was a part of was like being told by Paul that He thanks God for my faith.
How do we get recognized by these saints? The way is to incorporate the mind, body, and spirit in such a way in your daily life that the love of God pours off and out of you. That is why it is important to have a life of prayer. Not because it is a good deed to put on a chart, but it is the way you connect to the mind of Christ. The more connected to Christ the more we reflect His life. Prayer is the beginning of the devoted life, you will burn out in ministry if your prayer life is not developed.
I encourage you all to deepen your prayer life, and consider what type of life would get the saints talking. After that I encourage you to engage in life you are called to.
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11
There are several moments written in scripture that I would have loved to seen in person. Several of these events have been made into videos but most leave us wishing for more. This opening of Acts is one such time. Can you imagine what you would have felt seeing Jesus lifted up into the air and then disappearing before your eyes. It is the stuff we pay to watch at nearly every magic show, and I have spent enough money to know tat the disappearing acts are really what we want.
But that is not what gets me thinking. Jesus told these guys that they would have power soon. Most of us tend to think this means things like the spiritual gifts. You know the gift of healing, tongues, prophecy, and such. The thing is they already had most of these gifts, Jesus sent them out in groups and they cast out demons already. Over seventy people were doing this prior to Jesus’ death. Which makes me think, what power is he talking about?
I do not claim to know the original language, but I think the are refering more to influence than anything else. We will see the influence of Christ grow in greater ways after the Spirit comes than when Jesus actually walked the Earth. If you take a moment to consider thi it is the truth, the Spirit was able to influence people around the world at the same time, where Jesus could only be physically in one area.
At times I wonder why I do not see the power of God working around me. The angels caught the disciples looking up in the sky just standing there. They asked why are you standing. Odd question but Jesus did just send them on a quest. They were to go make disciples in their home town, their nation, and around the world. We will never see the power of God if all we do is stand, we must do something. We must pray, and then move when called. We also need to be open and honest, if we are not living in truth, we wil not be able to see the power of truth working around us.
The influence and power of God is far greater today than it has ever been, I am excited to see what he will do in the future, when I like all of you decide to stop standing around.