Thank you for joining us as we have worked our way through the book of Revelation. As Pastor David continues to help us unpack the rest of the book, we are going to turn our attention in our daily devotions to the different themes found in John’s writing. For the next week, we’ll dive into themes in the book of Revelation and explore how they align with the rest of Scripture.
This week’s theme: The New Creation
Looking forward to the renewal of all things and dwelling eternally in God’s presence.
Day 2: The Life-Giving River
Read Ezekiel 47:1-12
1The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Read Revelation 22:1-2
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
I love the color green. I think it is because it makes me think of something that is alive. I love to garden and I love plants – and when a plant is healthy, when it has enough water, well, it’s green.
When I visited the village of Podom in Senegal, West Africa, last year, we visited a small lake. My guide, another pastor from the U.S, said that he had visited that spot many times before – but there had never been any water there. But here was a lake in the middle of the desert with plants – leaves all in green- all around it. The village told him that during the rainy season, water collects in that spot… And for a short period of time, there is a lake…and not only were there plants …there were fish!! Can you imagine?! Fish in the desert where the rest of the year there is just sand and dirt. Water does something amazing there each year! It quite literally brings life.
The river in our reading for today also brings life wherever it flows. But unlike the lake in the desert, it continues to flow. It isn’t seasonal or conditional. God’s presence and His love are not conditional. He gives them freely and without end. What a beautiful picture of what God’s love can do in the dry and dusty places of our lives when we put our trust in Him. What He gives brings life!
Reflection: The river brings life wherever it flows. Where in your life do you need God’s living water to bring spiritual renewal?
