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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 26 December 2023:
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.
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.
Zechariah 13:2 – I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness.
When you are in intimate relationship with God, you don’t need someone else to tell you what He is saying.
Zechariah 13:3 – “And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’”
Many who claim to speak for God are selfishly motivated and enemies of God.
Zechariah 13:8, 9 – In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people?”; and they will say, “The Lord is my God.”
God’s people remain faithful through the refining process. In the end, they come out purer and more valuable.
Revelation 19:2 – …for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.
We should pursue truth and justice because God does.
Revelation 19:10 — Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
We must not give honor to others that belongs only to Jesus. We must not follow others only Jesus. All Christians have equal access to Jesus and all maintain a direct relationship with Him. We need no person to be our intermediary. Regardless of social status or position, no Christian has special rights or special access to God over another. If you are a Christian, you are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you have God’s word, and you have the opportunity to draw near to Him in obedience. What you do with what you have been given is up to you, and your relationship with God is between you and God. Other mature Christians should help you in your growth, but they don’t cause your growth. Jesus said, “Follow me,” not “Follow someone else who is following me.” The reality of human nature and human pride has inspired some religious sects to establish human ‘gatekeepers,’ so called religious authorities who claim that they are the entry point to the Father and the administrators of grace. This should never be! Jesus was clear, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 December 2023: Today, be refreshed by the living water of the Holy Spirit, and help the thirsty around you find living water by sharing the Gospel.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 