John 7:37-39
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 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 7:37-39 (NIV)
When reading the scripture for today, the first image that came to mind was a long hot summer day that was filled with chores like mowing the lawn, gardening, and pulling weeds. On days like that, you need to stop multiple times for water to keep from getting overheated or dehydrated. Given the arid climate in the Holy Land, I’m sure water was as much on the minds of the Israelites as it would be on ours on a long summer day.
How fitting then is it for Jesus to provide another image of a world without thirst? By simply believing in him, we receive the Holy Spirit that sustains us. Much like those hot days, I think it’s important to take regular breaks to refill ourselves with the Holy Spirit through prayer, scripture reading, worship, or reflection. Our relationship with God can never be broken, but, using the fountain analogy from today’s reading, our water has a stronger flow when we nurture that relationship.
It is comforting to know that God wants that relationship with us, which is why he gave us the Holy Spirit. Our God experienced the human condition through Jesus who died for our sins, and He wants to stay connected to us. We don’t have to do or be anything special to receive his gifts. We need only put our faith in him.
Question for Reflection:
- Are there times in your life where you feel the thirst for Christ more strongly?
- How do you maintain your relationship with God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that allows us to feel the connection and relationship with you. Thank you for the comfort in knowing that you desire that relationship with us. Help us to remember to nourish and cultivate that relationship through devotion, prayer, worship, and scripture. All glory and power to You, oh Lord. Amen.
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