God Is a River Of Love....Swim As Deep As You Can.... Daily

Ezekiel 47:8-9 - He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

 

Ezekiel’s tour of the Temple took him to the outer door….where he saw a stream of water flowing out from under the eastern gate. It continued to flow eastward to the sea.  The angel guide measured off 1,500 feet several times and had Ezekiel wade out into the water each time.  The first time the water hit his ankles…the next time it came up to his knees….the next to his neck.  The last time…the water came so high that his feet did not touch the river bottom…so he had to swim.

 

I heard a sermon once…so long ago that I cannot remember which preacher gave me these thoughts….but they have stayed with me.  He used this scripture to draw a curious analogy of our own inclinations to follow God at different levels. Some of us wade into his presence and never let his life giving water go further than our ankles.  We barely see the full measure of what God could do if we allowed him to lead us the next 1,500 feet down the river. Some of take his hand and go a bit further…perhaps to our knees….but something keeps us from wading any deeper into a faith that is more full and rich.  A few of us make it one more 1,500 feet….letting God lead us up to our neck…the water never fully reaches our head though….and many who come here don’t stay very long.

 

What God really wants for us is to go that last 1,500 feet….where we let go of the ground beneath us and allow him to carry us across that river by his power.  When we let go of the world…and allow his full love and power to lead and guide us…we taste the richest part of God’s presence… and have a hard time going back to less. We become part of his river. We become his hands and feet and allow is life giving love to flow through us so others might take their first walk up to their ankles.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to wade so deep into your life giving love that my feet do not touch the bottom anymore. Forgive me for wading for so long…and not having the faith to stay in the deepest waters of your power and presence.  Help me to walk as deep as I can into your love…so that I can become part of your life giving river….and help you lead others to the love your son provided for us all. Amen.