by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Life in the Breath of God

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Then he said to me, “’Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’”
Ezekiel 37:9 English Standard Version

After more than twenty-five years of living in Colorado, I finally made it to the Four Corners Monument, the only place in the United States where four states kiss each other. It was a bucket list item for me.

In a matter of seconds, a person can travel between four states or stand in all four at the same time. Okay, so standing over the marker isn’t the same as climbing Mt. Everest or sailing the seven seas, but it was a fun moment to savor.

Just as four states meet at the Four Corners, the four winds of God meet and give life to dead bones. Israel was dead in captivity. They had rebelled against God and there appeared to be little hope for them, yet God promised to deliver them. He would breathe life into their dry bones and bring them back to their land.

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the “slain.” You might empathize with the exiles as you feel slain by poor decisions you’ve made. Israel rebelled against God and as result the Babylonians killed them and took them captive. Yet, there is always hope in the God who loves us, whose Son was slain in our place on his cross. Through Jesus we have life even when it feels like death consumes us.

By our baptism into Christ, God has breathed his Spirit of life into us. We are alive because of God’s act of mercy in giving us his Spirit. Yes, the effects of death still touch our soul, but that death does not define us. God does. Rejoice today that God has breathed his life into your dry bones.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado