Sun’s Devo - The River of God

Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13 The man brought Ezekiel back to the Temple. He showed him a stream of water that went underneath the door of the Temple and flowed around the altar, then back outside. The stream became deeper and deeper until it was deep enough to swim in. There were trees all along the river that flowed east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters healed the salty waters of the Dead Sea making it fresh and pure. Life began to flourish with fish of every kind. Fruit trees grew along both sides of this water that bore new fruit every month. The fruit would be for food and the leaves for healing. *** The land would be divided equally between the tribes with the sons of Jospeh given two shares. The Temple would be in the middle of the land with land below it given to the city with farm land on either side of the city. The land on both sides of the Temple and the common land would be given to the Prince. *** Below and above that section of land would divided for the tribes. Above the Temple would be a section for the tribes of Judah, then Reuben, then Ephraim, then Manasseh, then Naphtali, then Dan. Below the Temple would be Benjamin, then Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. *** The Temple would have three entrances on each side of the Temple with a sign above the entrance stating which tribe would enter through it. The city had a gate all around it which had three gates on all four sides. The difference of the gates to the city and the entrances to the Temple were that there was a entrance for Joseph for both Ephraim and Manasseh. The gate to the city put Ephraim and Manasseh both entering through a gate named for Joseph and there was a gate for Levi which had no land. The city was six miles in circumference and would be called “The Lord is There.” *** In Peter he warns us to keep away from worldly desires that war against our souls. Our honorable lives should silence the ignorant people who wrongly accuse us. We are free from sin but a slave to obey God. *** Those who work under a master or boss were to respect him even if he is cruel and unjust. We should expect to be disciplined if we are doing wrong. If we suffer for doing good and endure it with patience, God is very pleased with us. *** Jesus endured immense rejection and persecution and he is our example. Wives are to accept the authority of their husbands even if they are not believers. Many husbands are won over by observing the pure and reverent lives of their wives. We must remember that beauty is what God calls beauty, which is one who has a heart that loves God and lives a pure live with a gentle and loving spirit. *** Husbands are to love their wives and treat them with honor and understanding. She is your equal partner in God’s sight. He is to treat her in a way that his own prayers won’t be hindered. *** Lord, your way is the way of love. Help us to keep in mind that the most important thing we need to do is love you with all our hearts and love others as you love us.