Daily Devotional December 27 - Are You Thirsty?

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  John 7:37-38

I love what Matthew Henry says in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, "We must not frame Christ according to our fancy, but believe in a Christ according to the scripture."

Jesus wasn't placating people with smooth words that have no substance.  No, Jesus was speaking the Word from His own mouth to anyone who would hear.  It was the end of the feast of Tabernacles, just before everyone would depart to their homes.  Jesus takes this moment to address the crowd.  What Jesus offers is no small thing.  Jesus reveals His divine authority to save and to make alive.  In these two sentences lies the gospel message.

The Christ of the scriptures reveals Himself, shows concern for every person, offers them a solution to their issues and invites them to make the same offer to others.
Jesus reveals Himself as the Christ of the scriptures, the Savior.
Jesus call cries out to everyone because He knows that without Him the people will remain thirsty: Thirsty for a grasp of the true spiritual life:

• Thirsty for rest for their souls
• Thirsty to find the answer to their questions in life
• Thirsty to get to know their creator
• Thirsty for right living
• Thirsty to know the truth
• Thirsty to have the ability to rise above their circumstances
• Thirsty to understand the ways of God
• Thirsty for healing in their body
• Thirsty for a true religious experience

Jesus states the truth about Himself, "He that believeth on me."  Jesus sets the stage for the rest of His  ministry.  There is no other true spirituality.  There is no other Savior.  There is no other personality to seek of prophet to follow that has the power of God.  There is no other way to God.  Jesus makes it clear that He is the Christ, the anointed One, the very Son of God and God Himself.

Jesus then goes on to prophesy what would happen to all those who wold accept Him, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  Living water is different than still water or stagnant water.  Living water is moving, being filled and filling others.  There is a flow; From God to you - from you to others.  This flow is stewardship.  God enlarges each of us in certain areas of expertise to gain insight, inspiration and wisdom from God, not so that it can make us smarter than others or more talented than others or richer than others, but, because we are His children, God gives us these things because He knows that we will give it to others.  That's the difference in stewardship and ownership.  

When Jesus speaks it's time to listen.  Make a pact with yourself that when you read the Bible you will believe what Jesus of the scriptures says.  It will be the truth and it will come to pass every time.