John 7:37-39 - Are You Thirsty?
John 7:37-39 (NLT) On the last day, the
climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to
the crowds, Anyone who is thirsty may come to
me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and
drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of
living water will flow from his heart. 39
(When he said living water, he was speaking
of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone
believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been
given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his
glory.)
INTRODUCTION
Jesus used the term 'living water' in 4:10
to indicate eternal life. Here he uses the term
to refer to the Holy Spirit. The two go
together: wherever the Holy Spirit is accepted, he
brings eternal life. [Life Application SB]
If anyone thirst, let him come to me and
drink (justification). He who believes in me, as
the scripture has said, Out of his heart shall
flow rivers of living water (sanctification)
[John 7:37, 38]. Only as we constantly drink the
living water can our behavior be an outflow of love
and blessing to others. [SS Lesson 4/22-28/90]
COMMENTARY PEARL
The Willamette Valley baked in the midst
of a heat wave, so I spent the morning watering
the garden. As I bent to place the sprinkler in
one of its last positions, I noticed several of
my primroses looked terrible. Their leaves had
wilted, and the blooms withered.
We'd placed these flowers at the edge of
a flower bed, surrounding a fountain. As I
investigated, I discovered that some of the plants lay
just beyond the radius of the water's spray. As
other parts of the yard soaked up life-sustaining
moisture, these blossoms waited just inches away,
shriveled and dying. I repositioned the watering
system, making certain the entire area was covered.
I'd noticed the problem and made the necessary
adjustment just in time.
Before I found my way to Jesus and drank
of His Living Water, I was like those parched
annuals. I existed on the fringe, unnoticed and
love-starved. I sensed that some of my acquaintances were
happy. Whatever they had, I wanted - and needed -
badly. But the mysterious contentment they
possessed seemed to tease at me, as if just out of
reach.
Then one day, a friend invited me to her
Bible study. That was the beginning for me. As
Jesus made His home in my heart, healing waters
fed my soul, first in gentle droplets, then in
buckets. The river of life runs through me now, and I
will never thirst again (John 4:10). Heidi Gaul
Faith Step: Purchase a small houseplant
to care for. As you feed and water it, watch it
thrive just as we do under Jesus's care. [Mornings
With Jesus 2023 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
He who seeks to quench his thirst at the
fountains of this world will drink only to thirst
again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied. They long
for something to supply the need of the soul.
Only One can meet that want. The need of the
world, "The Desire of all nations," is Christ. The
divine grace which He alone can impart, is as
living water, purifying, refreshing, and
invigorating the soul. Jesus did not convey the idea
that merely one draft of the water of life would
suffice the receiver. He who tastes of the love of
Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks
for nothing else. The riches, honors, and
pleasures of the world do not attract him. The
constant cry of his heart is, More of Thee. DA187
The heart that receives the word of God is
not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken
cistern that loses its treasure. It is like the
mountain stream, fed by unfailing springs, whose
cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock,
refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy-laden. It
is like a river constantly flowing and, as it
advances, becoming deeper and wider, until its
life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. The
stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind
its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass
on its banks is a fresher green, the trees have
a richer verdure, the flowers are more
abundant. When the earth lies bare and brown under the
summer's scorching heat, a line of verdure marks the
river's course. So it is with the true child of God.
The religion of Christ reveals itself as a
vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working,
spiritual energy. When the heart is opened to the
heavenly influence of truth and love, these
principles will flow forth again like streams in the
desert, causing fruitfulness to appear where now are
barrenness and dearth. PK233,4
CLOSING PEARLS
No sooner does one come to Christ than there
is born in his heart a desire to make known to
others what a precious friend he has found in
Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be
shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the
righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His
indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our
peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is
good we shall have something to tell. SC78
Every true Christian is a living fountain,
ever receiving of the unfailing streams of grace,
ever refreshed and ever refreshing those that are
around him. Those who are coworkers with God
manifest a missionary spirit; for they are ever
receiving, that they may ever be giving to others the
light and blessing of heaven. CSW66
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 7:37-39 - Are You Thirsty?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220717-0819.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190816-1057.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
