MERRY FRIDAY BY PARRIS BAILEY-“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” Ps.46:4
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13.
Jesus becomes the river in our life and the fountain of salvation: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1 What are the streams of this river? Ralph Erskine says, “the perfections of God, the fulness of Christ, the operations of the Spirit, and these running in the channel of the covenant of promise.”
When we read Ezekiel we read of this river as “waters that came down from the right side of the house, and rising first to the ankles — then as the prophet passed onward, to the knees — then to the loins — became afterwards a river that he could not pass over; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. We see in this river Christ Himself full of grace flowing out to me and to you. He gives us water “to satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth.” Job 38:1-41. He becomes to us a “fountain of gardens,” “well of living waters,” “streams from Lebanon”. The very same river shall indeed make glad the city of God, which is the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. When we depend on this river, we will find the tree of life, that beareth twelve manner of fruits, and yieldeth her fruit every month.” My friend we can live in this River! Jesus can become to us a broad river of refreshment protection and living streams for healing. It is time to step in as the waters are ever moving. Learning to let go of your past hurt and shame as you allow Christ to bathe you, wash you and make you clean is the only way we are to live as a Christ filled believer. “Sir, I have no man! Said the man at the pool of Bethsaida. So many of us tend to “lose focus” on our real purpose of our life when we let others hurt us and depend on man. He bids us drink! It’s the only way life is sustained. What are you holding onto? Paul prays that our spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless till his appearing. (1 Thess. 5:23) Why is that? Because Paul knew we could get caught up, distracted and worn out by this world pitfalls. Learning to step into his presence and allowing the rain of the Holy Spirit will wash away the pain torment of “when things don’t go the way we thought”.
All around us is the dry and thirsty ones looking for the same refreshment and someone needs to “carry them to the waters”, I can only pray we can be that angel.