May 12 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Ezekiel 37:1–10

Bible Text:

"Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live" (Ezek. 37:9).

Devotional:

The valley was full of dry bones. Anyone could see that there was absolutely no life left. In English idiom we would say "dead as a doornail."

Then, by means of the Spirit and by the word of the prophet, God performed a miracle. "Breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army."

In the original languages of the Bible, the words for wind and breath and spirit are the same. One word is used to describe the wind that blows, the Spirit that comes, or the Breath that gives life.

This passage is another dramatic picture of the future revival. Israel would be restored under the Messiah, the Son of David: "My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd" (Ezek. 37:24).

Jesus, the new David, is our King and Lord. He is the Shepherd of his sheep. The restoration of which the text speaks is happening now, for the wind is blowing and the Word is being proclaimed. No one is so dead that he or she cannot be made alive by the Spirit of God.

You and I know more than a few who are spiritually as dead as dry bones. They are insensitive to God and to the voice of the prophets. Blow, 0 Wind of God! Breathe on them, Breath of God! Come, Creator Spirit!

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.