January 8: “Fire Starters for Hopeless or Hardened Christians” Ezekiel 37:1-14 Pastor Joe Sohn

The valley of dry bones. It is a place of death, of despair, of alienation, of hopelessness. That’s how the Jewish exiles felt in Babylon after the temple was destroyed. Many times, our world feels like the valley of dry bones. God is absent in our popular culture. Our souls can feel like dry bones as well. God seems distant and our hearts are hardened and cold. What can bring life and renewal to our souls? What can start the fire in our cold hearts? God told Ezekiel “prophesy to these bones and say to them, hear the word of the Lord.” The first thing we need is to hear the good news again.  Paul wrote in Romans that faith comes from hearing the gospel. Sharing the good news with others can revive us because we get to hear the gospel afresh as we try to explain it. But just hearing the good news is not enough. God also told Ezekiel “prophesys to the breadth.” In Hebrew, the word “Ruach” can mean wind, breadth, or the Spirit. When God’s breath entered the slain army, they came to life. When the Holy Spirit breathes his life into us, we can be revived. What does a holy nation do after they come back to life? They are to witness, love and serve all people so that God’s name would be made holy among the nations. When we get out of ourselves and serve others, a fire in our hearts can be reignited as well.