I am reading a Beth Moore book "Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith". The section I read this morning from Acts actually talks about Peter and got caught up in verses Acts 9:36-42. God raised Tabitha from death after Peter arrived, privately prayed and spoke "Tabitha, get up." Now my thinking went to Peter's closeness to God and as he prayed getting instructions from God on what His will was for Tabitha and the community. Peter didn't just get all spiritual on the spot but had been close with God before his prayer that day.
1. From God: "That's where you need to be Jane, close every day." And my thoughts went to the story of the dry bones and can I and even America get away from a dry spiritual condition. So as I began searching for that scripture about bones I found II Kings 13:14-21.
This tells about Elisha being sick before he died. King of Israel Joash came to Elisha weeping and they had a special time together with both their hands on a bow and arrow. Elisha prophesied that Joash would overcome the Syrians consuming them. As Elisha instructed Joash to smite the ground with the arrows, Joash struck the ground only 3 times. Elisha followed with anger that Joash was not more fervent striking 5 or 6 times and so he would only be able to overcome the Syrians 3 times.
I know this passage has nothing to do with the dry bones or Peter but I guess God is taking me a path through the Bible to bring some instructions home to me.
2. From God: Be fervent in what you're doing for God. Don't stop at only a 3 time effort but go on to 5 or 6 like you really want to accomplish what I want you to.
Now I look for the dry bones passage again. Vision of the valley of dry bones Ezekial 37:1-14 Read it. "Shall these dry bones live?" "And ye shall live ; and ye shall know that I am the Lord."
3. From God: Israel's hope was lost, their spiritual bones were dry. But God has abundant life and hope for dry bones, then and now.
Summary: Walk close, be fervent, and hope for God brings renewed life.
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