THE WATER OF LIFE

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: SUNDAY, 22ND MAY, 2022 (FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER/ROGATION SUNDAY) 

TOPIC: THE WATER OF LIFE

TEXT: EZEKIEL 47:1-12 

1. Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.

2. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

3. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water [came up to my] ankles.

4. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water [came up to my] knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water [came up to my] waist.

5.  Again he measured one thousand, [and it was] a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

6.  He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen [this?"] Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

7.  When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, [were] very many trees on one side and the other.

8.  Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. [When it] reaches the sea, [its] waters are healed.

9.  "And it shall be [that] every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

10.  "It shall be [that] fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be [places] for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.

11.  "But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.

12.  "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all [kinds of] trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."

MESSAGE: 

The prophet was shown water flowing from the temple. As he and his guide walked a given distance through the waters, it was ankle deep. After moving the same distance further, it became knee deep. When they waded through the water for the same distance, it became waist deep. As they moved the same distance again, it became too deep that they could not cross but returned to the river bank. This water in the river could heal seas and give life to the fish in them. The trees at the river bank produced fruit for food and their leaves produced medicine.Jesus is the source of water that gives everlasting life (John 4:14). 

When you accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, you become a child of God and get everlasting life. As you grow in the faith by desiring, reading and studying His word, your spiritual growth will move through ‘ankle depth, knee depth, waist depth and finally too deep’ when you have become mature. No wonder Paul prayed to know Him (Phil. 3:10). You may be a churchgoer but do you know Christ? If you are thirsty, come and drink of the water of life freely (Rev. 21:6). It is free for whosoever wills (Rev. 22:17)

PRAYER: 

Grant me, O God, to thirst and receive the water of life freely. Amen.

BLESSED SUNDAY TO YOU AND YOURS...