Oct 17

How is your spiritual life right now? Would you describe it as full and vibrant and satisfying? Or would you describe yourself as a dry? Perhaps you are a dry bone, disconnected from the source of life? If so, God has a question for you, just as he did for Ezekiel:

"He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?'" (Ezek. 37:3).

Sometimes we think the situation is hopeless -- either that of this evil world or of our own lives. We think that even God can't help us; we are too far gone, already dead while we are alive.

But the wise person will not give in to hopelessness. Notice that when Ezekiel was told to look at what seemed a hopeless situation of dead people, he did not reply to God, "Yup, it's hopeless, Lord. These people are dead and will never see the light of life again."

No, however hopeless it looked to him, he knew that the Lord God is the All-Mighty One and that nothing is beyond his power. Ezekiel did not trust his own, faulty human judgment and vision but opened up himself to see the larger vision of God that saw these dead people coming to life again. And so, although he saw no human way for these people to come back to life again, he did not rely upon his limited human vision but trusted the wider vision of God, and he said, "You know, Lord."

Whenever we are similarly tempted to throw up our hands in despair and quit, we should do the same.

Scripture for today: Ezekiel 37:1-8
Thought for today: God sees a larger reality than we do.
Prayer for today: Lord, encourage me when I want to quit for lack of vision. Open my eyes to see the glory that you have waiting for those who trust in your vision.

OCT 17