Read Ezekiel 46
Highlights:
Ordinances for the princes and people in worship; prince's inheritance; vision of the Holy Water; river of the new Sanctuary; land appointed to Twelve Tribes, Sanctuary, city, and suburbs.
Afterward He brought me again unto the door of the House. . . . Then said He unto me . . . go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed (Ezek. 47:1,8).
In a vision Ezekiel saw the waters of life flowing into the Dead Sea, bringing forth fresh, life-giving water. Where there only had been death, great schools of fish could now be seen. Everywhere the river flowed, it brought life (47:9).
This is a beautiful vision of Christ in this world. Jesus has all the power in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). We know He can bring life to that which is dead. That is what He has done for each and every believer. He saw the state we were in and still paid the penalty for our sin. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). We were dead because of our trespasses and our sins, but when we prayed to Jesus that changed. He touched our hearts and transformed them to hearts of flesh. Our lives were once dark and dreary places. We had no hope other than what little we could muster for this life. Praise be to God that we now have the promise of eternal life. An eternity in heaven spent with God the Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus and all our loved ones who believed.
God has a pure River of Life for His redeemed people. We will drink from that water forever. On one occasion, Jesus said: If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water (John 7:37-38). All the blessings of life come through Christ, the Fountainhead, and continue to increase in depth and preciousness as we walk in the Light of His Word.
Our lives will continue to grow in Christ more and more as we let the Word of God continue to illuminate our lives. We must open ourselves up to it everyday. It will then shape our lives so that we can become more Christlike. We learn who Christ is from our study of God's Word. We become more like Him by acting on what we learn. For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified (Rom. 2:13).
Whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely (Rev. 22:17).
Thought for Today:
Fellowship with Christ brings fullness of life that overflows in blessing others.
Christ Revealed:
Through the river of living waters and one of the Names of God, Jehovah(Yahweh)-Shammah, meaning: The Lord is there (Ezek. 47:1-12; 48:35; also Rev. 21 — 22).
Word Studies:
46:7 as his hand shall attain unto, as much as he can afford; 46:24 places of them that boil, where the Temple servants are to boil the sacrifice; 47:2 utter gate, outer gate.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Edith Bennett • Staff: Pam Murton • Country: Tajikistan (6 million) southeast central Asia • Major languages: Tajik and Russian • Almost entirely Muslim • 82% Muslim; 4% Russian Orthodox • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy (Ps. 106:1).
Optional Reading: Revelation 19
Memory Verse for the Week: James 1:4
