March 31

The Life-giving Stream

Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. — Ezek 47:9 BSB

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb — Rev 22:1 BSB

In this remarkable chapter of Ezekiel, the impact of restored Israel is compared to a life-giving stream flowing from the Divine dwelling (Ezekiel 47:1). When the waters rise in the heart, they flow outward, as our Lord promised, becoming ever-deepening, ever-widening rivers of blessing to others (John 4:14; John 7:37-39). The ankles may represent the steps of daily life, the knees our prayers and intercessions, and the loins our affections and desires. Our influence for God should continuously grow deeper and wider. Every life should have the unfathomable depth of fellowship with God—a river so vast it cannot be crossed (Ezekiel 47:5).

Prayer

O God, our Father, the Ocean of Love toward which all streams flow, but in whom there is no ebb! The depth of our need calls to the depth of Your grace, yet Your grace is deeper than our need. May we drink deeply from the river of the water of life and overflow with blessings to the thirsty world around us. Amen.