In the book of Ezekiel, God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley full of bones. “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord!’” (Ezekiel 37:4).
There’s an amazing response. “Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them” (37:7-8). They were like dead men.
God told Ezekiel to prophesy a second time: “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again’” (37:9).
Ezekiel prophesies a second time and breath enters them. They come to life—a vast army. No longer dead but full of life. Likewise, to live a Christian life requires the same two things – the word of God and the Spirit of God.
God has given us his Word which is the Bible and it’s an amazing book full of truth and wisdom but without the Spirit of God, the words are lifeless.
At communion, we remember – the cross of Christ and the resurrection. We remember the truth of knowing Jesus died for our sins, and we remember God’s Spirit who resurrects our spirits so we can have a new life, spiritual life, abundant life, eternal life.
The bread reminds us of Jesus’ broken body which heals us of the disease called sin. The cup reminds us of the blood of Jesus. In the Bible, blood is a symbol of life. Because Jesus shared his blood for us, we can have life, spiritual life, through his Spirit.
Let’s pray …
Thank you Lord that you were born to be our sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Thank you that you lived, died and rose again to be our Saviour.
And today, if we have never done so before, we invite you, Jesus, to be our Lord and Saviour. We invite you to come into our life, cleanse us from sin and give us spiritual life, that starts now and continues for eternity. We can live a new life because of your spirit who lives in us.
Thank you for the symbol of the bread which reminds us of your body broken for us, so that our sin can be dealt with. And we thank you for the symbol of the cup which reminds us of your blood shared for us so that we might have spiritual life forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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