WEEK 52, Day 5, Friday, 25 December 2020

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 25 December 20:

Zechariah 13:1 — On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Zechariah 14:8-9 — On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

Revelation 22:1-4 — 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 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. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 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 22:17 — 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.

Merry Christmas!

Today, both Zechariah and Revelation describe the living waters which flow from the throne of Jesus, also described by Daniel and Ezekiel. This is the “water of life,” spiritual life, eternal life. Living water is the Holy Spirit received by grace through faith in Jesus – “Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”‘ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39)

Our readings from both Zechariah and Revelation describe the Lord’s second coming and reign on earth. However, the living water is available now to anyone who is thirsty – “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) What did Jesus say to the woman at the well? “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

• John 17:3, 13, 15-17 — And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…. and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves…. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

God’s will for us is we experience eternal life and the fullness of joy now, drink from the living waters of the Holy Spirit now, and go into the world and share the Gospel now so other may experience eternal life in Christ and drink from the living waters. As we go into the world to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) we must be very careful not to be deceived by the lies of the world and start drinking dirty, lifeless water –

• Jeremiah 2:13 — …for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
• Ezekiel 34:18-19 — Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
• Proverbs 25:26 — Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 25 December 20: Today, be refreshed by the living water of the Holy Spirit, and help the thirsty around you find living water by sharing the Gospel.