Devotional - Friday, August 6th

Ezekiel 47: 1-12



This scripture is the one Altadore Baptist selected as a metaphor or reflection of our church during our second look at our Vision statement. Its rich imagery has drawn me into a wonderful sense of God’s presence and purpose in our personal lives and in our global fissional Church life.


The small spring begins at the Temple, the place for worshipping and building our intimate relationship with our God. It is the only source for what becomes a rushing river, unexpectedly widening and deepening the further from the source it flows. It moves in real time and space, and causes a miraculous change in the landscape and even impacts the Sea it flows into as the deadly salt becomes fresh. Life abounds within it and all around it and food is plentiful for those who need to eat, and at the end is the promise of healing. God is present in our world, whether near or far.


As you look at this passage while we are in Kenya, I pray that your small springs of love, care, hope, generosity, and purpose will unexpectedly widen and deepen as we together sense God’s presence in the actions and obedience of the people of the African Brotherhood Church. We have come a long way to see what God has done here, and to learn how flooding spiritual water can make everything fruitful, fresh, teeming with life and full of healing.


I am curious about the “man” in this passage who leads Ezekiel through this experience. For me it is as if Jesus was there with him, someone with knowledge and authority, who has a measuring line in his hand (v.3). For the Kenya team it is Tim Bannister, of course. Please pray for him today, and Diane too, as they have a significant role to play on our behalf as we all safari ya kikanisa.


David Littel