Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit… – John 7:37-39a (NASB)
The soil was dry, aired and the landscape was marked with sagebrush, a thirsty land. A large and fast moving river ran through. All that water but the land was parched. In the distance I could see blocks of green like the giant squares of patch work quilt. As I got closer it became clear these areas were rich green because irrigation lines were giving fresh life to an otherwise barren landscape, such a dramatic contrast.
What vivid picture of our lives! Every person has a deep thirst for health, purpose and meaning. Yet there is a void, a dryness that touches the remote regions of each person. Just as the spring rain brings some level of relief, a project, a goal might bring relief but this shower of self-effort it is only temporary. The dryness and thirst returns. The cry of the heart is, “There must be more to life than this.”
Only when we are connected to God the ultimate source is our deep thirst satisfied and a rich fruitfulness result.
Jesus reviews this mystery to the women at the well in John 4 that he is the source of living water that will quench a thirst beyond water provided by Jacob’s well. God’s Spirit in the believer’s life provides “springs of living water” that is unlimited and gives abundant life and eternal life. Just as the river ran through a dry and thirsty land with little noticeable impact, in the same way the Spirit in our lives can have limited impact without a daily yielded-ness to his power and influence. The rich fruitfulness of God’s Spirit is in contrast to the barrenness of the Christian who lives a dry and self-reliant existence.
Lord Jesus, I yield each area of my life to you and confess my self-effort as pride. Direct and empower my even action today. May your Spirit create a profound transformation in my life resulting in the fruit of your Spirit being displayed in my life.
Action: Start each day with an acknowledgement of your need for God’s Spirit and the barrenness of self-effort.
by Mike Woodard
used by permission
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