How Deep Are You Willing To Go?

Going Deeper in Ezekiel 47

"And then he led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through." –Ezekiel 47:3-5 ESV

The river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flows from the very throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

The Lord leads us through His Living Water—the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us.

Although we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit at salvation, He is a gentleman. He leads us but does not force Himself upon us.

We can choose how deeply we wish to follow Him.

When we first believe, we begin by dipping our toes in the Water. We are babies in the faith, craving the spiritual milk of the Word.

Then we may decide to go deeper in Him—perhaps ankle deep or knee deep. We are becoming more familiar with His Word and His ways. We learn how He speaks to us and begin to see life from His perspective.

We begin to love more deeply.

Then we may dare to allow the water to rise to our waist. This is where everything changes. It can feel frightening, because we realize the water is rising and eventually we must take our feet off the ground and allow the Holy Spirit to take full control.

During times of trial, we may be tempted to return to shore. But, by then, we have already come so far and experienced so much in Him.

We are no longer the same person who entered the water.

I think many of us have struggled at times to completely let go and be carried by the Spirit. But oh, how we miss when we resist fully surrendering to Him.

Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side" (Mark 4:35). To go to the other side we must learn how to flow.

The Holy Spirit carries us through the twists and turns of life—sometimes even to places we would not choose on our own, but wherever His river flows, life follows.

Everything lives where the river flows.

“And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. — Ezekiel 47:9 ESV

Will you stay where your feet can still touch the ground, or will you trust Him enough to swim?