John 7:37-38

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ³⁸ and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”

Living Water

Have you ever been to a large festival, like a music festival?  Maybe a state fair?  Or more modestly – days like Pleasantville day that we just celebrated in our town.  I wonder how we would react if we encountered Jesus saying “Anyone who is thirsty can come to me.”  Would he get our attention?  Would we define ourselves as thirsty?  Would we watch and listen from a distance, to see if anyone else approached him, and what would happen if they did?

Truthfully, I think most of us would be nervous to approach someone saying these words.  At the same time, there exists a place where we are very much in need of living water. We have a need for a river that will never stop flowing in our hearts.  We have a need for a Spirit that will flow, will melt us, will mold us, will fill us up in the places where we most need our thirst to be quenched.

Prayer: Dear God, Help me O Lord to admit my need for your living water to flow through my heart now and always. Amen

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you respond to the idea of living water, and rivers as ways to understand our faith?
2. Where do you feel thirsty in your soul?
3. How could the thirst you define be quenched by the Holy Spirit?