I recently read again Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel chapter 37. I have read the account before, but this time I literally had thoughts of Ellijay as I read it. In chapter 37: 4-5, the Lord tells Ezekiel to “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.” If you are familiar with the story in Ezekiel, you know that the vision he had was about the restoration of Israel as a people, to bring a spiritually lifeless and scattered people back from the dead. The Hebrew word for “breath” in verse 5 is “Ruach”, which means breath, wind or spirit. In Ezekiel’s vision God breathed life into the bones and they became a vast army.
As I observe people going through the daily routine of life here in our community, I can’t help but wonder just how many are walking around dead spiritually? How many people do not have the Spirit of God or “breath” of God within them? As I ponder this, I also am aware that the bones in the story did not come alive until Ezekiel was obedient and prophesied to them as told.
Brothers and Sisters, there are likely many “dead” people walking around us today who need the breath of God breathed into them. What does the Bible say is our role in this epidemic? Matthew 28:19-20“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I would like to encourage you to be intentional and obedient to what the bible has called us to do.
Blessings,
Jeff