On the last day of the festival, the great day,
while Jesus was standing there, he cried out,
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,
and let the one who believes in me drink.
As the scripture has said,
‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers
of living water.’ “
John 7: 37,38
I read these verses several days ago.
They were needed words as I was feeling thirsty.
We all can have times of deep thirst.
Times where we could utter the same words as
the psalmist in Psalm 63, lamenting of being in a
dry and weary land where there is no water.
Life can feel like that.
It can be filled with disappointments, hard places
or even random encounters with those that are unkind.
Our souls can take one too many assaults and feel
parched.
I did a little research this week to better understand
this plea that Jesus gave centuries ago.
The same plea that is a promise to all of us now.
Where was Jesus?
He was observing the Feast of Tabernacle. This
feast is the most joyous celebration. It was an 8-
day observance commemorating the Israelites
journey in the wilderness to the Promised
Land as they gathered in tents (dwellings) with God.
It is also a memorial of God’s provision of water from a
rock in the wilderness.
This festival was a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate
God’s abundant provision.
On that last great day, Jesus stood which is significant
as I have learned that priests sat to teach. When they stood,
they were heralding truth.
How did Jesus speak?
He cried out.
Jesus was telling the people who what he had to say
was so important that he had great emotion as a result.
To whom was Jesus speaking?
Anyone who was thirsty.
Physical thirst is a condition that is common to all.
Jesus wasn’t talking about a physical thirst but a
spiritual thirst.
He cried out for those poor, thirsty souls.
What is thirst?
Those who are said to thirst are described as
painfully feeling their want of, and eagerly
longing for those things by which the soul is
refreshed, supported and strengthened.
What is the thirst quenching recipe?
Come to Jesus.
Believe in Jesus.
Drink.
Sounds easier than the directives I have
given myself in the past.
I must admit my thirst.
Go to the source of water.
There are days that I may have to crawl to get there.
Other days I simply sit before him…lacking…spent…
THIRSTY.
I believe that there is no other source who can fill
the dry cracks of living other than him.
I open my eyes,
my ears,
my mouth,
my arms,
my mind,
my heart,
my soul
and
let him
fill me to
overflowing.
God is not satisfied to just
fill our lives,
He wants our lives
to overflow.
He should be a torrent
gushing from our lives.
He longs to be our Rock in each of
our wildernesses.
The LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong and you shall
be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58: 11
enter giveaway here
