Life will flourish wherever this water flows.
Ez 47:9 NLT

When scientists and astronomers go looking for extra-terrestrial life, they don’t go looking for actual aliens. The first thing to look for is water. If a planet has no liquid water, like the moon – it won’t have life. If it does have water, like Jupiter’s moon Europa, then maybe it does.

The same is true on earth itself. There’s not much life to be found in the deserts. The rainforests, on the other hand, are our most abundant ecosystems. Places where land and water meet, like swamps and wetlands, always have greater diversity. Where there’s water, there’s life.

Today’s verse, ‘life will flourish wherever this water flows’, is from the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. It’s part of an extended dream sequence. The prophet sees a stream flowing out from the temple, getting wider as it goes. It flows into the desert, and trees spring up on either side. Dry lands become productive, polluted water is made fresh again and the fish return. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s healing presence, the ever-expanding kingdom of God restoring a broken creation.

Jesus called himself ‘living water’, and said that he had come to bring life. As followers of Jesus, we’re part of that river of healing flowing out into the world. So why not mark World Water Day like this: pour yourself a glass of water. Take a look at it. Taste it. Thank God for it, and the refreshment it brings. And now ask yourself how you can bring healing and refreshment to your own world.

Maybe it’s an act of kindness for someone you don’t know. Maybe you could message a friend who’s feeling down, or pay someone an unexpected compliment. You could tidy up a forgotten place, or clean something nobody ever bothers to clean. Look out for someone who’s lonely. Keep your eyes open for opportunities, and let God’s presence flow out through you.

May life flourish wherever you go.