Ezekiel 47:1-23
We read, Lord, about the rising of
the ‘river’ of Your blessing - ‘ankle-deep... knee-deep... up to the
waist ... deep enough to swim in - a river that no-one could cross’
(Ezekiel 47:3-5). This is the river of ‘life’ - ‘a great number of
trees.... Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river
flows... large numbers of fish because... where the river flows
everything will live’ (Ezekiel 47:7-9). We thank You, Lord, that ‘the
Spirit’ brings ‘rivers of living water’ into our lives (John 7:38-39).
Help us not to settle for a shallow experience of Your blessing -
‘ankle-deep’, ‘knee-deep’. ‘Deep calls to deep.’ May ‘the Spirit’ lead
us into ‘the deep things of God.’ Teach us to ‘launch out into the
deep’. May we ‘swim’ in Your mighty ‘river’ of blessing. May we ‘be
filled with the Spirit’ (Ezekiel 47:3-5; Psalm 42:7; Luke 5:4; 1
Corinthians 2:10; Ephesians 5:18).
Ezekiel 48:1-35
‘The Lord is
there’ (Ezekiel 48:35). We thank You, Lord, that You are with us when
we gather for worship: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My
Name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20). You love to be
among us when we are worshipping You: ‘He looks down upon us, delight in
His face, enjoying His children’s love, enthralled by our praise.’
Teach us to come into Your presence with joyful praise - ‘The King is
among us. His Spirit is near. Let’s draw near and worship. Let songs
fill the air!’ - and reverent fear - ‘Be still, for the presence of the
Lord, the Holy One, is here. Come bow before Him now with reverence and
fear’ (Mission Praise, 650,50). When we leave the place of worship, may
we take Your promise with us: ‘I am with you always’ (Matthew 28:20).
