April 30 - Rivers of Living Water

April 30 - Rivers of Living Water

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, 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.’ ” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” (John 7:37-52)

Sometimes I get so caught up in reading the story of scripture, I miss the little treasures that can be found.

“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus had told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the source of living water.  In this passage, He promises that after He sends the Spirit to us … after His death and resurrection … we, the believers will have that living water flowing from us.

As I was composing this today, I first typed, “we will be the source of the living water.”  I knew as soon as I typed those words that wasn’t how I wanted to state it, because we aren’t. We are simply a vessel and Jesus is the source.

I doubt that anyone considers themselves the source for Jesus’ living water, but I do believe that many of us don’t realize that we carry this within us. 

To those who are dried up – we see them as angry, crusty, bitter, mean, always sarcastic, gossips, critical, … the list goes on and on – we are to be fresh water that softens and gentles their hearts and minds.

To those who are parched – desperate for love, lost, in pain, mourning, filled with grief and loss – we are to be a gentle stream that brings love, relief and God’s mercies.

To those who are arid – overwhelmed by life, crawling and yet never reaching their goals, afraid to move out of themselves – we are to be an oasis offering hope and encouragement.

From the heart of Jesus … to our hearts … to the world, we pour out the rivers of living water that brings others to Him … the true source.