The Whole Story: A Life in God's Kingdom, Part FourSample

Family Devotional:

Ezekiel 37 is one of the more famous visions of the prophet Ezekiel. At this point in history, Israel had split into two “kingdoms,” one of which was captured and brought into exile in Babylonia. As a younger contemporary to the prophet Jeremiah, Ezekiel found himself ministering in Babylonia, while Jeremiah prophesied in Judah, those not in exile. Ezekiel’s vision, also known as the “Valley of Dry Bones,” speaks directly to the turmoil of the day. Ezekiel comes up upon a valley of death, including two sticks of wood. In this vision, Ezekiel witnessed as the dry bones began to fill with flesh and come back to life, and the two sticks were reunited. The meaning? Ezekiel prophesied that Israel would, one day, reunite and live in peace with each other – the way God intended them to live.

Daily Demonstration:

The spiritual death and separation of Israel were, believe it or not, saddening to the heart of God. Since the very beginning, God desired a family to spend eternity alongside. In Ezekiel’s vision, we see that one day, this will become a reality, as Israel reunites and comes back to life. This vision, however, can have a meaningful impact on our lives today. Are there aspects of your life that seem dry and in disunity with God? As you sit down for a Sabbath meal with friends and family tonight, consider being honest about those areas. Pray that God would regenerate the dead aspects of your life. Pray that God’s people would be regenerated as we look towards eternity.

Additional Resources:

• The Table, Podcast, Dallas Theological Seminary, The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed

Sabbath-Specific Resources:
• John Garr, Family Worship, (Amazon)
• Celebration Church, Prayer and Resource Guide for Practicing Sabbath, (Website: www.celebration.org/resources)