Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 7:37, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.'”

Background

Imagine being in Jerusalem for the week for the Feast of Tabernacles. It was quite possibly the most popular of the Jewish feasts, and therefore would include many celebrations and participation from an enormous amount of people. Food and drinks would be plentiful, and crowds would gather everywhere all throughout the day. Needless to say, you’d be hard-pressed to go home hungry or needing something to drink. But it’s on this last day of the Feast that Jesus stands amidst the crowd and urges anyone who is thirsty to come to Him and drink. An entire week of feasting had gone by, and so I wonder just how thirsty many of the people were. But therein lies the power of the message He was delivering, and it speaks just as loudly to us today. For Jesus doesn’t limit what someone might thirst for in His offer to come to Himself. He doesn’t say He offers drink only to those who are thirsting for something particular. He says that anyone who thirsts should come to Him.

Application

So the onus is on the listener to decide if they are thirsty or not. After a week of feasting, would someone look within their soul and see that it was still empty and thirsting for a relationship with God? Today, after feasting on the success of work or the thrills of life, would anyone stop and realize that they are thirsty for something more? Now, the great part about the invitation from Jesus is that it continues to call out to His children, too. For as we lose our focus and crave what is passing, we come to Him with these desires and He changes our taste buds to long for Him again. When we request of Him what we think we want, He speaks back to us the word that sets our heart back on the kingdom. Coming to Him with our list or our plans, thirsty for results and confirmation, He instead reminds us of what our hearts need to be seeking. He tells us we’re thirsting for the wrong things. But in His love, He gives us Himself, which quenches any thirst that we thought we had. So, since you are thirsty, come to Him and drink. It’s just what you are needing.

Charge

As we seek Him today, acknowledge that you are thirsty, even if you’re not sure for what. Bring whatever you are longing for to Him, and let Him quench it as only He can.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words