Quench Your Thirst

Read This: “My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Think: It’s August. It’s hot. And it seems like water is on everyone’s mind. We want to drink it loaded with ice, swim in it to refresh and cool off, and attach it to a fan to mist us if we’re insane enough to sit outside. Even the plants cry out for water as they start to wilt in the afternoon sun. Water is a precious resource—no organism can live without some form of it.

In John 4:7 Jesus is traveling through Samaria when he stops at a well to sit and rest. He begins a conversation with a woman by asking her for a drink of water. Jesus shares with her that those who drink from the well will be thirsty again, “but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” She’s doubtful at first—who wouldn’t be? Didn’t he just ask her for a drink? But as they continue talking a seed of faith is planted and she goes back to the village and urges the people to come meet him. Because of this, many came to believe in Jesus Christ.

The Bible is full of references to water. Later Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38). When we plant ourselves firmly in him we become like the tree in Jeremiah 17 that does not thirst even in drought and always bears fruit. When distress comes, we will not wilt because our roots go deep to the source of life. And like a strong tree, we will be able to provide shelter and shade to others when they need it most.

Sometimes we go for days or weeks or even months without drinking from the water of life. As much as our physical world depends on water, how much more so do our hearts thirst for God? How often do we show up at church or go throughout our day just going through the motions? We can get caught up in being obedient without necessarily being intentional. We offer God our obedience without our hearts—and we expect him to be pleased. And like the thirsty man, we never stop to be refreshed in him, to acknowledge that he is all the life we need and without him we exhaust ourselves.

God is there for those who believe in him. “‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say: ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge” (Rev 22:17) As easy as you turn on a tap to satisfy your physical thirst, God’s stream of life is ready to satisfy your life’s thirst.

Ask: Are you thirsty? When is the last time you allowed God to fill your heart and refresh your spirit? How does “drinking from the water of life” play out in your life?

Pray: Put aside your distractions and spend time focusing on God, asking him to move in your heart and renew your strength.