August 3 Living Water

Ezekiel 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. 3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. 5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. 9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."

INTO Israel's desert of sin and dry bones of disobedience comes the renewing power of the Living God. Here is God's promised future of the abundant life Jesus would later proclaim in John 10:10(b) "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." 

    Yes, this vision of life streaming from Jerusalem points to the thirst-quenching Gospel of God flowing from Jesus' blood poured out on the cross. Living, healing streams of water is Jesus' assurance in John 7:37-39 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

    Yes, the Spirit gave a vision to Ezekiel. The Spirit fulfilled the vision in Jesus. And then the Spirit gave a future vision to John our eternal life in Revelation 22:1-3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3  No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

    From the shallow stream of Jesus' blood in Jerusalem, the Gospel runs deeper and deeper throughout the world until all in Jesus will rejoice in the Living Water's refreshing joy one day.

    Is it any wonder Jesus said to the broken woman at the well in Samaria (John 4:13-15) "Everyone who drinks of this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

    Then is it any surprise the woman replied, (John 4:15) "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." The Spirit had touched her to know her spiritual thirst. Doe your soul thirst for life, hope and love? Know, then, in Jesus you have one true water to drink.

    Water is life. The Living Water of the Gospel of God is eternal life. Be thirsty for Jesus to pour over you. Drink the life-giving Gospel and be satisfied forever.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank for Jesus, the Living Water. Fill the streams of our souls with him on this day. Amen.