I think that the theme of rivers was a big one with Oswald Chambers. This is at least the third time he has made reference to this verse.John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
So when I saw that it was this verse again, I almost expected a repeat devotional...but Chambers surprised me and gave me something new to think about. He wants me to think about the source of a river and the nature of a river.
A few weeks ago, my family went up to the city of Rochester on a Saturday night to watch a laser show at the high falls. While I was listening to the narrator of the show, I heard him say that the source of the Genessee River is in Pennsylvania. It actually starts out at a relatively small trickle of water. It ends up becoming 157 miles in length and disharges into Lake Ontario. What strikes me in particular is the power this river has and how it meanders through many different counties in NY and PA. There is many a farmland that can thank this beautiful river for it's fertility.
Speaking of rivers:
A river is victoriously persistent, it overcomes all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, then it comes to an obstacle and for a while it is balked, but it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle.
Do you ever come to an obstacle in your life and it feels as if God cannot use you? Chambers urges us to keep paying attention to the source of our river-The Holy Spirit of God. Keep at it! The Holy Spirit can overcome any obstacle. If we allow the Holy Spirit to flow rivers through us, we water many around us. However, at the source of a river, those destinations are not known. This little trickle of water empowering an electrical dam? Watering farmlands? Causing huge waterfalls and beautiful scenes along the way? Even being the source of good fishing and other forms of recreation?
Don't let anything come between you and Jesus. He is your source. Let him choose the river's path and to whom it is a blessing.
Photo by Ken Gallager
"A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle."
ReplyDeleteTonight I am thankful that the river continues its quest in spite of the obstacles.
PS. Love the picture of the falls. Did you get a chance to see the old mill wheel at Brown's Race?
ReplyDeleteyep!
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