Ezekiel 47: 1, 5-9

1 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.

5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 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.

John 7:37-39

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Questions for Reflection:

Does connecting these two passages together give new meaning to when Jesus calls himself the "river of life?" How is your imagination sparked?

What "dead sea" exists in your life? Where do you need a "river of life?"

Is there someone you can bring life to?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love You, I worship You, and I trust You. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live, in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that You have for me today and bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I now recognize my utter need for You, Holy Spirit, in every aspect and dimension of my life. I deeply desire to be filled with You and to walk in step with You in all things. I seek to have You animate through every one of my thoughts, words and deeds today! Father, I ASK You to fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill me afresh! (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive You with thanks, and I give You total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen