Read John 7:37-39; 1 Peter 2:4-12
This past week we had a team day for the staff at Grace and we took time to go to Hilton Falls, as part of the Halton Conservation Parks. It is one of my favorite places to go hiking and I went there often when I lived in Milton. As I reflected on what I should share, I was drawn to the constant overflow of the falls first as a reminder that Jesus said to us who believe, that, ‘streams of living water will flow from within him’. It is the living Spirit of God that we need to encounter everyday so that there is flow in our lives! As I am drawn into His presence, He ministers to me, floods my soul with His truth, His affirmation and His grace. It is only as a result of that overflow that my life is used to minister and speak into the lives of others. Our service for Christ should naturally be an outflow of our relationship with Him. It was that very picture that Jesus wanted to create at the Feast of Tabernacles where the pitchers of water would be poured out and flow to the south side of the temple. He was saying in effect, the temple is no longer a building, it is a people from whom God’s presence will flow. Look at Ezekiel 47:1-12 to see the context. It is a perfect flow!
The next truth that really hit me while I prepared for our walk was the fact that this was the site of an old sawmill from the mid 1800s. There was a dam created there to harness the energy of the falls and the remnants of that dam are still there today. The unique quality of its structure is that the dam was constructed of dry stone walls on the up-and-down sides. The core consisted of loose stone and fill, not bound with cement. So, here’s the other truth, we were designed as believers for a ‘perfect fit’! We are the living stones that God has uniquely fitted into place built on the cornerstone or capstone of Jesus Christ. We are being designed as a living temple where we are all being built up in each other and so we were meant to complement and strengthen each other! There is nothing artificial or manmade about the community of faith that God in His divine wisdom fits together. So, while it was pretty neat to sit on a structure that had lasted for over 150 years, we are part of a living, active design that has gone on for 2000 years.
So, if your soul is weary and thirsty, go to that place where He can fill you with more of Himself and then allow that overflow to strengthen your commitment to fit with others in this place! As a team we spent time sharing what we felt was one of our defining moments and how that really changed the trajectory of our lives. We then took turns praying into the way God designed us. Take time to discover this with your family or small group this week!
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