Today’s reading: Romans 5:12-21; John 7:37

If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink

John 7:37

In the arid Middle East where Jesus lived, scarcity of water has been a major problem down through the ages.  Jesus’ listeners, therefore, knew from personal experience what He meant when He spoke to them about water and about thirst.

Or did they?  For Jesus was talking not about physical thirst, but something much deeper, more important.  The thirst Jesus referred to was their spiritual need – the desperate thirst of souls parched by sin. 

Sadly, spiritual thirst isn’t always felt.  It can manifest itself in a number of ways.  Sometimes we feel that thirst as inadequacy, unworthiness, a guilty conscience or lack of meaning in life.

No matter the symptom, Jesus is the cure.  “Come to Me and drink,” Jesus said.  Not to religion, but to a relationship.  Not to rules and regulations, do’s and don’ts, but to a person.

To drink Christ by faith is to receive His blessings, character, attitudes and outlook within ourselves – to become alive with His life. We become like the desert that bursts forth and blossoms with new life after it receives an unexpected drenching of rain.

That blessing is offered to “anyone” – no matter who you are, what you’ve been, or what you’ve done.  “Come to Me,” says Jesus, “and have your thirst quenched – quenched with Living Waters from the wells of salvation.” 

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for the water of life – for washing me clean of my sin by the waters of Baptism and providing me the thirst-quenching, spiritual water of your forgiveness, love, and grace. Keep me always thirsty for You.

Contributed by Rev. Paul Peckman