Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
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Worship: Celebration of
Faith
“ Fruit trees of
all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not
wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because
the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for
food and their leaves for healing.” (V.12)
Take a moment to think- where were you 10 years ago from this moment?
A lot may have changed since; and with each new change you embrace, you
redefine who you are and how you contribute to this world. This renewal of
identity makes us appreciate a Father who constantly guides our lives in
directions we may not perceive. In Ezekiel’s vision, a man leads him through
deep waters. They wade through the waters, as it progressively gets deeper till
they could go no further. Once they return back to the riverbanks, they notice
the plethora of trees. These trees, found on either side of the river, have
grown out of fertile soil and nourished by fresh water flowing from the river.
Even the Dead Sea, one of the saltiest seas in the world, inhabited life from
this fresh water as seen in Ezekiel’s vision. This “water” can be seen as the
foundation we place in our faith in God. As we further strengthen our
foundation in God, He supplies and produces viable “soil” that will allow us to
flourish in our lives. The passage also points out that the river from this
temple flows to produce life. This temple serves not merely as a center of
worship, but as a spring of life to all that choose to receive. For those who
don’t choose to receive, they will be like the marshes and swamps- producing
only death. This vision presents a renewal of creation, a continual praise
given to the Lord. We sometimes lose sight of the meaning of “worship”,
thinking it can only be contained in a verse of a poem, or a song. But
“worship” is the adoration and expression of reverence to God in any way, even
as a simple sentence of awe to Him. Ezekiel’s vision, ultimately, revealed the
wonders of an Almighty God, one in whom we can never cease to praise.
Thought for the Day: Though life may be filled with many highs
and lows, God is the main controller of our lives. He constantly tests us,
molds us, and renews us to be further used for His Glory.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for continually changing our lives for the
better- for always leading us and keeping watch over our every step. We worship
You for who You are, not what you have done- we thank You for the renewal of
our lives as we further fixate our faith in You. Amen.
Robin T. Varghese Epiphany MTC, NY