New Roads New RiversSample

It’s a common but true metaphor that life is a journey... A journey we take along the roads and seasons of growth, opportunity and experience. These roads of life are rarely straight, flat and wide like a runway – at least not for very long! Proverbs 15:24 says, “The way of life winds upwards for the wise.” That image makes me think of a winding road that leads up to a mountain peak; you can’t see very far ahead because the road bends and twists with steep and narrow paths. At times you need to stop for rest in order to regain the strength to continue. The road is for ‘the wise’ who understand that their life has a purpose that unfolds along the way. And the higher you go, the better your perspective! Remember - the view at the top is magnificent! Oftentimes, an upward winding road follows the path of a river. In God’s economy, where there are roads there are rivers - with God’s purpose comes His provision. Think about roads that lead upward to Heaven’s purpose and rivers that flow downwards with Heaven’s provision - new roads winding upwards, new rivers flowing downwards. The Bible has a lot to say about rivers. In John 7 Jesus declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Ezekiel 47 speaks of rivers that flow from the temple bringing life to everything as they wind their way into the Dead Sea. Just like those rivers, I love the thought that life and healing flow from God’s House in Jesus' name. Micah 4 paints a picture of a river of people flowing into the temple. What an awesome dichotomy that is when it comes to the House of God. We believe for people to flow into the temple and for life to flow out of the temple. A life in Christ has new roads of purpose and vision, and new rivers of life and provision along the way. Roads of faith always lead to rivers of blessing. I pray that our lives and our churches will be a roadmap of His faithfulness and the source of life and healing to others. If the entire gospel message were concentrated into a single passage, perhaps the final paragraphs of the Bible best bring it into glorious perspective – The Spirit and the bride say, “COME!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.- Revelation 22:17 (NIV) PRAYER: Lord, may my life be a portrait of Your goodness, a source of hope and encouragement to others, and a channel of life and healing to the world - in Jesus' name.