"Then
the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing
from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main
street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of
fruit, with a fresh crop each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” - Revelation 22:1-2
Coming
from the throne of God is this river of delights (Psalm 36:8). It comes from springs of
life giving water (Revelation 7:17). The streams of this river provide for the inhabitants
of the city of God, and it is situated in the holy place where the Most High
dwells (Psalm 46:4). Water from this
river will continue to flow on into the new world, when New Jerusalem descends
from heaven (Revelation 21:2). Before the throne, there is
also a sea as smooth as glass and crystal clear (Revelation 4:6).
God’s love also flows like a
river from His throne, out into the nations. While our spirit was still dead in
unholy living and sin, God loved us so much that He became man to pay the
penalty of our sins on Calvary’s cross. He does not want anyone to perish in
hell, but to live gloriously and eternally with Him instead. God’s mercy
planned that Jesus’ death would restore our relationship with Him forever (Acts
15:11). We did nothing to earn this
privilege (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
It is a free gift (Romans 3:14; 6:23).
Yet, some people never repent of their sins. Therefore, they condemn themselves forever, because of their stubborn, insistent unbelief (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8). It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Out of our love for God, His Agape love flows out of us to the rest of the world. Jesus proved His love by His actions. We also carry on that witness by allowing God’s river of love to flow through our life as well. We go out into the world living the example of who Jesus is and what He did for us all.
We never judge a person by
their conduct in the moment, because God is their judge (Romans
14:4). We do however, have discernment
to know whether someone is living by the Spirit of God or not (1 John
4:1; Matthew 7:151 Thessalonians 5:1; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 John 1:7). We pray for our friends, relatives, associates and
neighbors constantly. We are ready in a moment to give an accounting to them of
our faith and the reasons behind our beliefs (1 Peter 3:15).
Jesus example is the only
life we should follow. Everyone else, even those in our church family, are
merely sinners and not very good examples on which to base our life. However,
Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors and church family with the same
sacrificial love that He gave us when He laid down His life on Calvary’s cross (Matthew
22:37-39; John 13:34). Some of us are
better at this than others. Some people never even take the time to get to know
their neighbor’s name. How can we win them for Christ unless we have a
relationship with them?
God puts us in people’s
lives to be able to help them in their time of need. If we care for a person’s
physical and emotional needs, they will be more open to us when we tell them
that Christ is the answer for their spiritual needs. Jesus also referred to
this river as the moving of His Spirit (John 7:37-39). If we take time each day to drink of the living water
of the Word and the Spirit, we will thirst no more and have the Spirit of God
living within us, guiding and encouraging us throughout our life (Ephesians
5:26).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, whomever drinks
of natural water will thirst again; but whomever drinks of the water or Your
Spirit and Word will never thirst again. Remind us to read Your Word and to be
led by Your Spirit; so that we will become in You a fountain of water springing
up and flowing out into the world around us. Help us to drink of and to share
Your living water with everyone You bring our way. (John
4:13).
Thought for the Day:
God’s
love, His Word and His Spirit in us are all part of God’s river of life to the
world.