John 7:37-39
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “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.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Water has always reminded me of calmness, patience, and serenity. In times of turmoil, I have looked to calm myself through the water. On retreats and campouts, I’ve veered towards finding adventure through creeks, rivers, and any other body of water.
Jesus presents us with a different kind of water. The water that Jesus speaks of is called living water. Health experts seem to agree that no matter what, water is necessary to our human existence. Any nutritionist would tell you to cut out any other drinks, and just drink more water. As humans, we can see that water is necessary for our survival. Jesus uses this fact to point out that this “new” living water that He speaks of, is essential to our survival.
What is living water? How do you obtain living water?
Living water is the salvation and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us.
All around the world, clean sustainable water isn’t accessible. Many organizations and missionaries’ primary goals have been around creating sustainable ways to create clean drinking water. In America, clean water is in surplus. Not many Americans have to think of ways to get a clean source of water. However, countries such as, Eritrea, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda (the three countries with the lowest access to clean water as stated in “WaterAid report reveals nations with the lowest access to water”), struggle with finding access to clean water. Even though Earthly water isn’t always accessible, the water that Jesus talks about is in abundance and offered for everybody.
To obtain living water, everybody has to just come and ask Jesus. What does this look like? Do you have to get rid of all the crud from your past before you come to Him? By no means!
When Jesus asks us to come to Him, He is asking us to recognize the need of a Savior in our lives and to trust in His promises. None of us get grace from Jesus by “doing” something, we receive grace as a gift from Him. All we have to do is come to Christ and ask Him to quench our thirsts.
Living water, the Holy Spirit, is given to us through accepting Jesus as our savior. Chris is in and working through us at that point. We can share how Jesus gave us His living water with others, and we are called to do so.
Where are you at right now? Do you have that living water flowing in you right now? What is stopping you from coming to Jesus and asking Him for water today? Who can you show this abundance pool of living water?