Over the past two days, I have been following the thread through the Bible with regard to what I’m calling ‘the River of Life.’ In Ezekiel 47, Ezekiel had a very powerful and graphic vision of a stream, starting as a trickle from under the door of the temple. As it flowed, the trickle became a stream, then a deep, wide river, deep enough to swim in. 

In Revelation, John describes a very similar vision. 

Ezekiel’s Vision

“There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Ezekiel‬ ‭47:9, 12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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John’s vision

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, flowing with water clear as crystal, continuously pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river was flowing in the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river was the Tree of Life, with its twelve kinds of ripe fruit according to each month of the year. The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations. And every curse will be broken and no longer exist, for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there in the city. His loving servants will serve him;”

Revelation 22:1-3 (TPT)

Zechariah 14:8 speaks of ‘life giving waters,’ that flow both summer and winter, and Joel 3:18 describes a fountain that will “burst forth” from God’s temple, watering the arid valley!

And Psalm 46:4 tells us – “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” 

More importantly, Jesus spoke about this living water, in His conversation with the woman at the well: “For when you drink the water I give you it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!” John 4:14 (TPT) 

In all these accounts, the water is fast flowing. It streams. It gushes. It isn’t a well, or still pool. Neither is it solely for my own life, refreshment and healing. It is for “the healing of the nations.” The water is for bringing life to everything in its path. 

As I read these scriptures, I’m at the same time challenged and in awe. 

Awe, because God has reminded me that He lives in me – that we, His church, are His temple. And challenged because that awesome truth brings with it an awesome responsibility. 

This morning I’m asking myself the question; does that life giving river of God have free flow, in me, but much more importantly FROM me? 

Jill 💜