 Prepare to Listen. If using an Advent Wreath, light the 1st purple candle. Be still and let these words focus your attention: Everything will live where the river goes.
Prayerfully Read Ezekiel 47:6b-12 Then [the angel] led me back along the bank of the river. 7As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on one side and on the other. 8He said to me, ‘This water flows towards the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. 9Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. 10People will stand fishing beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect Reflect on the symbolism and possible implications for you of: everything will live where the river goes. When Ezekiel had this vision, he was in captivity in Babylon. His country and God’s temple were in ruins. Life and worship were difficult, if not impossible. Ezekiel wrestled with how to encourage his people to faithfully follow God in a very broken and troubled world. God didn’t promise a quick and easy restoration. Instead, the prophet was given a vision of the future as God sees it, encouragement to live hopefully despite the disorder of life in exile. We too live in a broken and troubled world and church. We wrestle with how to faithfully follow Jesus. Ezekiel’s vision is refreshing, one we seldom hear because few of us read this ancient prophet. It begins at the temple,[1] the symbol of God’s presence on earth. Water, an indispensable commodity, flowed from the temple to become a mighty river. When the angel took Ezekiel back along the river he saw that everything will live where the river goes. The Dead Sea (stagnant water) became fresh and teemed with fish, attracting peoples from En-gedi to En-eglaim, that is from east to west, inclusive of all people. Trees flourished, bearing fruit every month. “Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” We can’t create the river, neither can we rush or manipulate it. We wait, trusting Jesus to guide us to “springs of the water of life.”[2] We can only follow the river, staying close to Jesus our Guide. What caught your attention in this passage? What surprised you? What gave you hope? Prayerfully Respond Lord, keep me close to the river that I may live and be life-giving to those I meet today. Amen. Live obediently. Follow the river. [1] Read vv. 1-6a for the beginning of the vision. [2] Revelation 7:17.
0 Comments
 Introduction: Where the River Goes Everything lives where the river goes. Advent, a season of waiting, is a time to reflect on our lives and how to live fully in the One who guides us to the water of life, to the River where everything lives. As we struggle to live in a troubled and divided world we need help to follow Jesus, our Savior, more faithfully. Following this River by reflecting on Scripture is essential and will give us the help we desire.
Where the River Goes isn’t a traditional Advent theme. However, reflecting on scripture, getting into the flow of its mighty river, is an Advent discipline. This theme comes from a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel who also lived in troubled and divided times. He saw a mighty river flowing from God’s Sanctuary bringing life wherever it goes.[1] We begin Advent with this vision. The 2nd day is a reflection on Jesus’ teaching about rivers of living water that no doubt has Ezekiel in mind. [2] These Advent lessons may seem randomly arranged but are like the river that meanders through rough and calm seasons before reaching its end. While most of the lessons relate to water, I have also included some traditional Advent readings that aren’t about water. I pray that these readings will help all those, who, like me, wrestle with faithfully following Jesus in a troubled and broken world and church. Keep reading in Advent, keep following the river all the way to the One who came to freely give the water of life to anyone who is thirsty and asks. Let the river help you flourish. Daily meditations about the River and One who gives life, Jesus, will be available on this page, ending on Christmas day. If you missed a day, scroll down and get caught up. The format for these devotions is rooted in the ancient discipline of lectio divina.[3] There are five movements in each day’s meditation that can help you listen more attentively to God.
[1] Ezekiel 47:9. [2] John 7:38. [3] You can read about lectio divina at: https://www.storymakerlife.com/reading-the-bible-for-all-yoursquore-worth.html. Or, read my book, Live the Story not the Dream: Story and spiritual formation, available at lulu.com or Amazon. ©2024 Jackie Smallbones Please share this with your friends. If you would like to copy these devotions, please contact me for permission. |
AuthorI fell in love with biblical stories when I was a child. Through them, I fell in love with Jesus. I still love reading and reflecting on the many genres of scripture and sharing them with whoever will listen. Reading the Bible is the most important spiritual disciplines for followers of Jesus. For this reason, I write devotions for the special seasons that teach us to love Jesus more. ArchivesCategories |
- Home
- LIVE THE STORY
- Read Your Bible
- Spiritual Practices
-
Sacred Sagas
- Smallbones Saga 2024
- You just need to be thirsty (Jn 2:1-11)
- Can these bones live? (Ezk 37:1-14)
- Power the Jesus' Way
- Response to Jan 6
- Binding the Strong Man (Mk 3:20-35)
- Come, everything is ready (Lk 14:12-24)
- Help my Unbelief (Mk 9:14-29)
- Off with your shoes
- Psalms and prayer
- Praying in Ugly Times
- Ten Commandments (Ex 20)
- The Messiah we Want
- Why I can't vote for Trump
- Worship & Discipleship
- I don't hate Trump
- About Me
- Contact
RSS Feed
Books Available
|
RETREAT OPTIONS
|
Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their STORY
(Psalm 107:2 (TNIV)) © 2016 LiveIntoBeauty. All Rights Reserved.
|