Today's Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
Here God speaks to the prophet Ezekiel, placing his hand on him, bringing him to a valley full of dry bones, and asking him, “Can these bones live?” Then the Lord promises to take these bones, reassembling them, reanimating them, breathing into them, giving them life and a new purpose (v10). God says the Israelites, who were violently removed from their land, living in exile, are like these bones, and He will do for Israel what He did for these bones.

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Recently, I was in a setting at a church leader’s work conference, and the small group I was with asked me if I wanted to go to an arcade with some church planters. It was a yes from me! Then they said we’d get food and drink vouchers for going. Double yes!! While we were playing putt-putt golf, the topic of church planting came up as two of the four guys there were seriously thinking about it. They turned and asked me if I’d ever thought about church planting. I told them I had. There was a five-year period where I was working towards being a church plant, and that dream died a violent death in a sense. When they heard the story, they misunderstood me. They thought this dream was a sack of dry bones in a valley. I told them how God had revealed much to me about His plans through this experience. He showed me that even though I had a temporary setback on this dream, He had plans that He was putting together, doors He was opening, and purposes He was preparing me for. All of this was and is because He loves me dearly just as He loved those dry bones that he revived.

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
I do not know how we can live into this rhythm at Grace, or obey the voice of Jesus as his disciples, without trust in His plan and His direction. A great response to this passage is more trust in God’s leading in every aspect of my life, even in seeming despair. God opened the graves in this passage (v13), and the empty tomb reminds me of God’s love, plan and power made available to me in Christ.

About Jordan Goodie:
My family helps keep my feet on the ground and laughter in my heart! My wife, Katie, and kiddos Zoe (9), Naomi Grace and Blaise (2 1/2).
I have been around Grace since 2009 when I married into the Grace Family and I have served here on staff since October 2022 as Director of Spiritual Formation, Disciple Groups and Young Adults.