June 21-Change

Happy Friday! I hope you’re ready for a great day and ready to show the love of the Lord to someone new today. Yesterday when I was sitting by the pool, I was amazed at how clean and clear the water was (especially since I’ve been gone). But it was crystal! I couldn’t help but think about how drastically different that water looked compared with that the muddy Jordan. 


It runs on a down ward path, roughly north to south starting with the snows on the top of Mt Hermon down through the Sea of Galilee and on to the Dead Sea where the only outlet is evaporation. The Jordan River Valley is a fertile, rich valley that grows bananas, avocados, corn, olives, just all sorts of vegetables and fruits. 


The Jordan River holds such significance for believers—the healing of Naaman, Joshua crossing the Jordan into the promised land, to the baptism of Jesus. The Jordan is symbolic of change in the Bible. 


Joshua leading the Israelites from the desert into the promised land. 

“tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬


The Commander going from sickness to health. 

“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”...So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5:10, 14‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Jesús beginning His ministry. 

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬


It almost alway a time of transition or change when the Jordan is involved. Isn’t it amazing that God split open the Jordan for the Israelites to enter the promised land and He split open the heavens when Jesus was in the same place? That’s our God. 


The only exit for the water of the Jordan is not eventually to the ocean like most rivers, but to the Dead Sea. There the exit is through evaporation back to the heavens. It is so symbolic of our lives through good places and bad, and eventually death. Then, out of death, we rise to Heaven. 


This great symbol of change for Christians is not necessarily majestic or amazing or beautiful. But so very much of our faith happened in and around it. It makes sense then, that so many of us want to be baptized there. To get into those waters and know “Jesus did the same thing in the same river” is changing for the Believer. At least it sure was for me. 


Lord Jesus thank you for changing us and we pray that we would continue to change to be more like you. Mold us and make us to seek less of ourselves and more of you. Take everything but give us more of you because that is what we need. Help us to believe with a steadfast confidence that this is not our home and like the Jordan, we are just passing through this life of ours. We love you and praise you this day for all the mighty things you have done. Thank you Lord for saving us. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear friend,

Pam

Jordan River pics are on FB


PS. I reread my devotion from yesterday sqand saw that I had about 6 places I should have edited better—sorry. 

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