S) "12 By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."
Ezekiel 47:12 (NASB)
O) This verse is nearly at the end of Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple. At the beginning of the chapter, he was brought outside the temple, and he is shown a spring of water that flowed from under the temple. It steadily grew as he waded through it, becoming a full river. Then, he was brought to the bank, and as he turned around, this verse shows us what he saw. There is strong symbolism throughout the Bible, connecting the imagery of flowing waters and flourishing trees, to blessings. And, furthermore, in the New Testament, there are numerous verses showing the Holy Spirit as flowing or springing water. So, this passage is really showing the effect of the Holy Spirit upon our lives. The Holy Spirit grows stronger and deeper upon us, the more we walk in Him. It blesses us on both sides. The fruit that our lives will bear, through our growth in the Holy Spirit, means spiritual strength and healing.
A) This is such a beautiful promise! It is the natural effect of walking in the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:16)! It isn't the fruition of our nature, but His nature! So, whether I am in ankle-deep (v.3), knee-deep (v.4), waist-deep (v.5), or deep enough to swim (v.6), I continue on in His Spirit, because I know that relationship will get deeper and deeper.
P) Father, thank You so much, for this encouragement to continue in Your Spirit as I walk. There are days when it feels only ankle-deep, and days when it feels deeper, but this shows me that Your nature means the longer I spend walking with You, in the Holy Spirit, the stronger and deeper the flow will be. Thank You for the growth You have brought about on the banks of my life, Father God. Keep me in that flow, and let me walk deeper and deeper with You, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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