Lent 2014
April 6, 2014
Read Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Also may want to read John 11:1-45)
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ — Ezekiel 37:1-6
In today’s scripture our stern and personally challenging prophet Ezekiel shares the vision that God has placed before him of the rebirth of Israel. The New Testament reading for today is John 11:1-45 that tells of the raising of Lazarus. Both of these stories are matters of faith where what seems beyond the grasp of humans becomes real by the grace of God. In Matthew 19, Jesus shares that a rich man entering the Kingdom of heaven might fit this definition also—might be beyond his grasp. But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ –Matthew 19:26
This is a threefold message for us today: God is in our vision and our planning, God is in the realities of everyday life, and God can remold and make us like Him divine*. We need all three. If we cannot dream dreams of better futures, we will not step forth to pursue them. If we cannot feel the presence of God as we deal with life’s challenges, we become discouraged and may give up. And if we do not have the ever present redeeming work of our Savior, we may get so caught up in this world that we fail at being builders of God’s kingdom.
I drove by Putnam Heights Elementary earlier this week. Construction workers were preparing the ground for, I assume, a new building. This is part of Oklahoma City’s commitment to provide quality schools for all our children. What vision do you have for this school when the rebuilding and remodeling is done? What hope for the students? How is God reshaping you in your role as a builder in God’s kingdom?
Prayer: God consecrate our lives to your purpose. Guide our actions. Prod us to complete our tasks. Amen.
*Paraphrased from the hymn, Are Ye Able Said the Master
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.