Thirsty?
Oh, those hot, humid days of August. Aren’t they great?
Those days when you feel like you need a shower after walking from the house to the car. Those days when any afternoon outside work makes it hard to breathe because there is more moisture in the air than oxygen. Those days when the sweat glands should get paid overtime.
Those days of stifling heat, which leads to a pop-up thunderstorm, which leads to more humidity, which leads to stifling heat.
One thing that any outside activity mandates is the hydration of a cool bottle of water. August does a great job of making us thirsty from the outside conditions. Life does a great job of making us thirsty from the inward conditions.
And this internal thirst—this thirst of the soul—cannot be quenched or abated through a glass of water. The need of the heart is not touched by the water from the tap.
But, for those who have thirsty souls, hope exists. Notice what John records in John 7:37-38:
“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.”
Did you notice what Jesus promises? Rivers of living water for anyone who is thirsty AND comes to Him. If you try to solve your soul-thirst in any other way, you will remain thirsty. Only Jesus can satisfy this internal thirst.
Many other options are clamoring for our attention and making promises that will only disappoint us. Maybe you have tried to quench your thirst with some of those other ways. It will not work. Instead, go to Jesus and drink.
When we believe Jesus and respond to Him in faith, He promises one other aspect of this thirst-satisfying water. Jesus says it “will flow from within them.” The water comes from within. You can always have it. Unlike your cell phone, you will never leave it behind. Unlike your car keys, you will never replace it. The living water that is available can flow from within you.
How is this possible? John goes on to further explain:
By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive (John 7:39 NIV).
Jesus was saying that when someone believes in Him, trusts in Him, places faith in Him, the Spirit comes to live in that person. One of the joys and the blessings of the indwelling Spirit is that He brings the rivers of living water that is able to satisfy the thirsty soul. How refreshing!
When the deserts of life bring an oppressive thirst, come to Jesus. Believe in Him and receive the rivers of living water, which is the Holy Spirit, who can satisfy the aching hurt in your heart. Nothing else can. But, Jesus will…if you trust Him.