Day 29

“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. 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. 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. He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’” — EZEKIEL 47:3-6

In most spheres of life, the effects of what we do decrease with time and distance. But that which derives from the activity of God within us only gets deeper, richer, and broader in its effects. That is why our lives, lived under the authority of Jesus Christ, empowered by His Spirit, will always be significant.

Do you feel the river is fairly shallow as it flows out from within you? Maybe it seems that way. Maybe you can’t measure many direct answers to your prayers or many people brought to Christ through your witness. Though the river may seem shallow, as it did to Ezekiel, go a few hundred yards more and it gets deeper. Go around the corner and it’s deeper still. Go down the hill and out of sight into the valley, and the river is full and getting deeper and deeper until you can’t pass through it.

The work of God in our lives is like that. It’s a progression, where the more we come to know Him, the more He leads us into deeper waters. And we don’t have to know the effect of our works, only the source. When the source is Christ, the effect is His responsibility, and it isn’t our call that we see results. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith and not by sight.”

When Ezekiel got down to the Dead Sea, the little ankle-deep trickle he had walked through outside the temple up on the hill had become a life-giving river, bringing freshness and fruit wherever it flowed. What was the secret? Ezekiel explained it very simply – “because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.” (Ezekiel 47:12)

Do you remember what was happening in the sanctuary? The Lord was on the throne. He had occupied the territory. The entrance to the temple was closed to anything other than the Lord Himself. The glory of God filled the sanctuary, and from there, the river of life began to flow. At first, it appeared to be only a trickle, but soon it became a river and the stagnant waters began to revive. It began to draw life and the barren trees along the shores of the river started bringing forth fruit. And that is the intent of God for our lives – a river of life flowing through us so that we may bring forth fruit for Him. 

PRAYER: Dear God, Sometimes I have thought what was flowing out of my heart was only ankle-deep, because I haven’t seen the results I would like. But I know now that I only need to remember You are the source, and the outcome is up to You. I pray your river of life will always flow out from me, and thank You, Lord, for using me in this way.

TO REFLECT UPON: Have I ever been discouraged at the lack of seeing results in my witness for Christ? If so, has that prevented me from venturing into deeper waters or is the river of life flowing out from me a constant in my life?