Tag: Thirsty
Day 3–Keep the Water Flowing!
Scripture reading for May 13: John 4:11-14 “The woman said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never bet thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””
Firefighting primarily depends on a supply of water. When called to a fire, we always bring a truck with a supply of water with us because we can’t depend on having a water supply handy. If out in the country, tankers holding two or three thousand gallons come to resupply the pumper engine. One fireman is designated to run the pump and insure the pressure is maintained for those fighting the fire on the hose or hoses. If in the city, hoses from the engine are run to the hydrant and a continuous supply can be maintained. If the water goes dry or runs out, firefighters and those who may be trapped are in grave danger.
In today’s devotional reading, Jesus is talking to a woman by a well dug hundred’s of years earlier by Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. The well was deep and getting the water out required a vessel and a rope and strength. Jesus asked a woman there for a drink. The woman was taken aback for Jews did not ask Samaritan women for help. Jesus drew her out of her cultural and ethnic box by inviting her to ask Him for ‘living water.’ She was curious and asked where she might find this water. Jesus again caused her to think by stating that the water He would give her would become a ‘spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ In other words, a never ending supply for eternity!
Firefighting can make us thirsty. Those caught in fires are usually dehydrated. Water is essential for fighting fires, but also for life itself. But Jesus Christ wants us all to enjoy our personal well of water that springs up inside our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, I need a continuous supply of water! Hydrants can run dry, tankers only hold a limited amount. Fill me with living water. Amen.
The Invitation: “Come!”
Scripture reading for December 31st: Malachi 1-4 and Revelation 22
Key Scriptures: Revelation 22:17-20 “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus!”
Jesus Christ ends the Revelation given to John with three “I am coming soon!” declarations. The Holy Spirit and the Bride(Christ’s Church) all are calling out to all men to “Come!” The message is simple. It must not be added to or taken away from! Old and New Testaments agree!
Malachi 4:1-3 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.”
Prayer: Lord, I long for Your coming. Thank You that it will be soon! Help me to offer the invitation to all You send me to. Amen.
Anyone Thirsty?
Scripture reading for April 14th: John 7
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 7:37-39 “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Jesus was attending the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three times Jewish men were required to come before the Lord in Jerusalem. This feast celebrated the completion of the harvest and commemorated the Israelites” desert wandering where God miraculously supplied water for all from the rock. The custom was to pour out jars of water before the Lord and when they were doing that, Jesus stood up and made the declaration that anyone who was thirsty could come to Him and drink! The result would be a spring of ‘living water’ welling up within! Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit who would come into believers after His resurrection!
Observations for over-comers: G0d”s people, who are over-comers, are thirsty for the Living God! We go to Jesus and drink our fill! It becomes a flowing spring inside us! “O God, You are My God, earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)
Living water!
Scripture reading for November 1st: John 6-8
Thirst is a great motivator! When we were farming in Iowa, during the hot summers we had some jobs that made us very thirsty. Picking up hay bales on a humid afternoon with no breeze really worked up a thirst. Staking bales in the barn was a hot job! We also cut sunflowers out of the soybean fields with a machete working up a good thirst!
“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” “By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:39-39
On this last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the custom was to get two large jars of water from the pool of Siloam and pour it out as an offering before the Lord. It was probably at this time that Jesus stood up and spoke to the crowd. He invited those that were spiritually thirsty to come to Him. He promised that if they would drink of His life, a life-giving stream of “living water” would flow from within them. John interprets this prophetic word of Jesus as referring to the Holy Spirit being poured out after Jesus’ ascension. The Holy Spirit would be a life-giving spring that would bring rivers of refreshing and life to those who would believe on Jesus and receive the Father’s blessing!
Are you “thirsty” from your hard work and labors in this sin-filled world? Jesus calls for us to come to Him for the relief we need. He was glorified as He ascended into heaven and was seated at God’s right hand. He poured out the Spirit on the day of Pentecost! He alone is the source of this spring of special “living water”. This water is obtained by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Living Water: there’s no other drink quite like it!
The Feast of Tabernacles
Scripture reading for May 13th: John 7:31-53
After delaying His appearance at the Feast of Tabernacles, halfway through the celebration Jesus appeared in the Temple and began to teach there. His teaching amazed many and caused much discussion about who Jesus was. Some tried to seize Him and others put their faith in Him. (John 7:30-31)
It was during this last day of the Feast, that Jesus came to the Temple. “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If any one is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to later receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39)
On the last day of this feast of Tabernacles, it was the custom to draw large jars of water from the Pool of Siloam and to pour them out before the Lord, celebrating how Moses brought water from the rock in the wilderness to refresh God’s people. This was done in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, who would take them to their ‘Promised Land” and provide food and eternal refreshing. In this context, the Jews who heard Jesus would have paid attention. Some thought that they had heard a great prophet, and others thought the He was the Christ. (John 7:40-41)
As we look at this prophetic word from Jesus, we now know that Jesus was speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who would put their faith in Him as the Messiah. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church and each believer received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4) Out of their mouths flowed a new language of praise to God and power to be witnesses to all the world. This gift empowered the Church to live fruitfully and to be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ at any time.
We are all just passing through this life, the world is not our home! We have been given rivers of living water to bring refreshing to those who will hear! The King is coming soon! Let those waters flow here in this wilderness!