Today’s Reading: Ezek 45:1–46:24, Rev 22:1–21, Job 39:11–23

Today’s Theme: The Source of Life

God is the source of all life, from him flows the river of life, he is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe, this is the God we worship, he has a plan and it will come to pass so we look forward to the return of Jesus and restoration of creation

Ezekiel 45:1–46:24

God takes care of our needs

Another section, 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits broad, shall be for the Levites who minister at the temple, as their possession for cities to live in.(Ezekiel 45:5, ESV)

God is good and so takes care of the needs of his ministers

There will be peace in Israel

“Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 45:9, ESV)

The tumult in Israel will end one day and Israel will dwell securely in the land according to this word

Fulfilled by Jesus

It shall be the prince’s duty to furnish the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.(Ezekiel 45:17, ESV)

If this is symbolic then Jesus fulfilled all of this on the cross, he is the ultimate offering and everyone of the feasts and sacrifices point to Jesus the Messiah

Press forward

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.(Ezekiel 46:9, ESV)

Our lives of worship with the Lord require that we set our faces like flint and always push forward, never looking or going back by Gods grace

Daily devotion

Thus the lamb and the meal offering and the oil shall be provided, morning by morning, for a regular burnt offering.(Ezekiel 46:15, ESV)

This is symbolic for daily devotional time with God. Just like you need to eat every morning you need to spend time into he word and prayer each morning

Revelation 22:1–217

God is the source of life

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb(Revelation 22:1, ESV)

God is the source of all life and reality itself

12 fruits

through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.(Revelation 22:2, ESV)

This is no ordinary tree but again points tot he symbolism of perfect government, we should be like little trees of life bearing much and varied fruit in our lives (the fruit of the Spirit)

God purpose is to heal the nations

We look forward to this day

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.(Revelation 22:4, ESV)

we look forward to that glorious day Lord

We will reign

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.(Revelation 22:5, ESV)

We will reign forever with Jesus! Hallelujah!

Angels do not receive worship

but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”(Revelation 22:9, ESV)

No true angel will receive worship from man, that is why we know the Jesus and certain theophany’s in the old testament were not angels, Jesus is God.

Repayment is coming

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.(Revelation 22:12, ESV)

Jesus will repay everyone for what they have done, so we need to watch our works before God

Jesus both root and offspring

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”(Revelation 22:16, ESV)

Jesus is both the creator of the Davidic line and a result of it in his incarnation

Come and drink

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.(Revelation 22:17, ESV)

Yes Lord stir up a great desire in us to come and drink of your gracious life.

Jesus is coming soon

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!(Revelation 22:20, ESV)

This was written 2000 years ago so the soon Jesus speaks of is not as men understand it but we should always be ready and eager for his return

Job 39:11–23

Don’t be an ostrich

She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,(Job 39:16, ESV)

Lord keep us from being ostrich like parents that leave our children to be exposed to suffering and hurt, it is our holy and joyful privilege and responsibility to protect and care for our children

Ostrich’s, created fast

When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.(Job 39:18, ESV)

Even though God made ostriches stupid, they sure can run 🙂

Horses, created brave

He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.(Job 39:22, ESV)

God has made horses brave and fit for battle, how awesome is our God