Daily Readings & Thought for April 15th. “RIVERS OF LIVING WATER”

A really challenging saying of Jesus is, “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” [John 7 v.37-38]  Jesus is obviously NOT speaking of literal rivers.  What does Jesus give people to drink?

We recall the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, when he said he could provide “living water” to drink – if the woman had asked for it! [John 4 v.10]  What did he mean?   How can “rivers of living water” flow from the human heart? This gospel of John is a rich source of nutrients for a thirsty mind!

We must ask ourselves. ‘Is my mind thirsty?’ Remember what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the mount?  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” [Matt.5v.6]  To do that you have to recognise you have a hunger and a thirst of that nature.  How do you recognise that?

Well, are you satisfied with the way you think, the things that occupy your mind?  Do you go to bed at night thinking, that it had been a worthwhile day – spiritually?

It is sad that many people do not realize they are suffering from spiritual malnutrition.  It is tragic, especially among young people, that so many today are looking for “kicks” and their lives are largely froth and bubble, the very opposite of “living water”.

John’s Gospel shows this “water” is related to “the spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive” [7 v.39]. Now it is obvious this refers to far more than the disciples being able to speak in other languages as happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Paul wrote that “in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith.” [Gal.3v.14]; this is the wonder of spiritual fellowship with the divine [2 Cor.13 v.14].  Alongside this we must put the words of Hebrews 6 v.5 that those who experienced Holy Spirit power in those days have “tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.”

Finally, in the Bible’s last message we have God on the throne saying, “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, I will be his God and he will be my son … “ [Rev. 21 v.6-8]

How beyond imagining to have this as your heritage!  Are you making progress in conquering (or overcoming) the polluted waters of this life? Are you thirsting for righteousness?