Live!

Give [Jerusalem] this message from the Sovereign LORD: You are nothing but a Canaanite! Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die. But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, “Live!” And I helped you to thrive like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Ezekiel 16:3-7

EZEKIEL WAS SPEAKING for God to the Jewish captives who had been dragged away from Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. Through his prophet, God had been impressing upon his people all that he had done for them and the way they had sinned against his goodness to them. In Ezekiel 16, the Lord speaks to his people, describing them as an abandoned baby dumped by the roadside, unwanted, uncared for, left to die . . . until he, the Father they had not known, walked by. He came into the field and saw this discarded child no one wanted and said, “Live!” What an act of grace. God willed his people to live; he helped them to thrive; he nurtured them as they grew.

This is true about all who are children of God. We were helpless and destined to die until God set his love on us and gave us life. We were rescued when we should have perished because we were lifeless and useless. But the Father passed by and saw us lying there and said, “Live!”

You are the God who takes discarded children and makes them your own. Make us your own. Call us to life. You bring awakening where you want, when you want, and to whom you want. Your life-giving power is not activated by our schemes and tactics, but by your Spirit. So we ask you to come by and see us, and see ________. Call us to life as only you can! Help us to thrive! Nurture us as we grow to become your beautiful jewel.