Step into Purpose
Devotional
Until You Can’t Touch the Ground
Vision is so crucial for stepping into your purpose.
Ezekiel 47 tells of the river that flows out from the temple, from the Holy of Holies (see Isaiah 6:1-6). This passage is powerful because it shows that if you pursue God’s holiness, you will undoubtedly receive vision for the purpose that He has for you.
But, as the passage shows, this is not achieved within your comfort zone. Ezekiel progresses through four different levels before he is able to see. So often we ask God to reveal our purpose, but we’re only willing to go ankle-deep. The vision Ezekiel sees is of abundant life sustained by proximity to the holiness of God (the river, see Psalm 1:1-3). Things that drift away end up stagnant and lifeless (Ez. 47:11).
If you want clarity and sustained vision for your purpose, you need to venture into a relationship with God that pushes your boundaries. One in which you are immersed, where your feet don’t touch the bottom of your comfort zone. It’s in this place that you surrender your control and, in exchange, find yourself carried by Him into a purpose that contains the fullness of life.
Scriptures:
Ezekiel 47:1–12 (NIV) 1The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. 3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. 11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Isaiah 6:1–6 (NIV) 1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
Psalm 1:1–3 (NIV) 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Until You Can’t Touch the Ground
Vision is so crucial for stepping into your purpose.
Ezekiel 47 tells of the river that flows out from the temple, from the Holy of Holies (see Isaiah 6:1-6). This passage is powerful because it shows that if you pursue God’s holiness, you will undoubtedly receive vision for the purpose that He has for you.
But, as the passage shows, this is not achieved within your comfort zone. Ezekiel progresses through four different levels before he is able to see. So often we ask God to reveal our purpose, but we’re only willing to go ankle-deep. The vision Ezekiel sees is of abundant life sustained by proximity to the holiness of God (the river, see Psalm 1:1-3). Things that drift away end up stagnant and lifeless (Ez. 47:11).
If you want clarity and sustained vision for your purpose, you need to venture into a relationship with God that pushes your boundaries. One in which you are immersed, where your feet don’t touch the bottom of your comfort zone. It’s in this place that you surrender your control and, in exchange, find yourself carried by Him into a purpose that contains the fullness of life.
Scriptures:
Ezekiel 47:1–12 (NIV) 1The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. 3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. 11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Isaiah 6:1–6 (NIV) 1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
Psalm 1:1–3 (NIV) 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
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Its hard to swim when your hands are holding on to something. We say we want a relatonship with God, but are unwillng to let go of the things we hold dear so we can swim out into the deep waters of true commitment to Him.
This is all about faith. It’s easy to say “ I trust you Lord “ when the water is ankle deep, knee deep or waist deep. But when you are over your head fear and doubt sets in. This is when your faith is tested. He is the same God no matter how deep the water is. Have faith in him.