Revelation 22:1-2, 17 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 22:1-2, 17 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 22Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb Verse 2through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Verse 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Devotion
In Revelation's final vision, the sea may be no more but the waters have not dried up. All water is now life-giving water. Come, everyone who is thirsty. That would be all of us. Come! This gift is for you, for us. This river waters the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. These waters are for all people.
This vision of Revelation is perhaps my favorite water-marked vision in all of Scripture. All the promised rivers, from the streams of Eden to the Jordan to Jerusalem's Gihon Spring, all the prophetic visions from Isaiah to Ezekiel, come together to form this one mighty stream from God to the world. For me, the vision always is accompanied by music: "Shall we gather by the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God?" (Robert Lowry, "Shall We Gather
at the River?" Evangelical Lutheran Worship 423). The answer is, "Yes." We will gather together with all the saints, past and present.
I think of us gathering by this promised river every time we gather 'round the font to welcome a newly baptized person into our midst. I sometimes envision the waters of the river flowing through the pews and out into the streets.
And the whole congregation runs out, wading in the waters and shouting, "Come ... anyone who wishes, take the water of life as a gift!"
Come. Join us. We are watermarked!
Prayer
God of Grace, we give you thanks for your healing waters. And mostly we give you thanks for your dear son, source of the river of life.
Amen.