Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

11 September 2024

Reading From Ezekiel 46-48

“The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar…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…Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” —Ezekiel 47:1, 9, 12

Water is a symbol in the Scriptures of the Holy Spirit, cleansing, and renewal. In John 4:14, Jesus spoke of living water that we both drink from and that He causes to well up from within us. In order to experience the new birth, we must first be born of water, meaning through the waters of our mother’s womb. When we are born again, we are cleansed inwardly by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. This inward work of God is symbolized by the outward sign of water baptism.

The east river flowing from the temple brings life and abundance wherever it goes. In the prophetic message of Joel which is echoed in Acts, God said that He would pour out His Spirit. Pouring suggests liquid and the symbolism is powerful. Wherever there are willing hearts ready to surrender, the Spirit comes flooding in. He convicts, guides, cleanses, indwells, renews, bears spiritual fruit, empowers, graces with gifts and comforts.

“Holy Spirit, You are welcome in our lives. Remove wicked desires and replace them with greater thirst for righteousness and truth. Well up within us and overflow into the lives of those around us. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. —Revelation 22:1-5