September 19 - Over my Head

 Read today’s texts first: Ezekiel 47,48; Luke 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY 

The River of Life flows from God’s throne
and it’s time to get in over your head!

The parallels between Ezekiel’s visions and John’s in the Revelation are too many to be coincidental.  One of the most specific is of the river that flows out from the Temple (Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22).  In both accounts, the river flows out from God’s throne and waters life-giving trees along its banks.

The difference is Zeke’s dip in the river.  He starts slowly, just getting his feet wet.  But soon he’s up to his knees, past his waist and finally over his head.  The river of God always represents the Holy Spirit so Zeke’s gradual immersion is a picture of surrender to the Spirit.

One other distinction in the Ezekiel account is the river’s effect on the dead sea it flows into.  In this case, it actually revives the sea, freshening the water and creating an environment where fish flourish.  The picture is in stark contrast to what Ezekiel and his readers would be familiar with.  The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea now as it always has, but instead of bringing life, the salty sea instantly deadens the river, killing its fish.  When I heard that from Daniel, our guide in Israel, I thought what a great location for a fish and chips stand - the fish conveniently float to the surface, pre-salted and ready for the deep fryer.

The application speaks of a growing dependence on the Spirit, where we learn to trust Him more and more, to the point of surrendering control.  When we become truly Spirit-led, the effect can be miraculous, bringing life to a dead world that at one time could have killed us.

“Lord, I’m ready for a swim today.  I’m starting to understand how much I can do if I’m over my head and completely reliant on You!”