John 7:37,38 – On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
This passage is very simple yet at the same time quite hard to comprehend. Simple and difficult at the same time? Absolutely, this is how it always is with spiritual revelation. You catch a new spiritual truth that brings light into your life and often the first response is ‘How have I missed this simple truth?’ Here Jesus is introducing the concept of spiritual thirst. He said there was a day approaching when Living Water would be availability to everyone, speaking of the day we are now in. The Holy Spirit is poured out on all mankind but only a small percentage of the world’s population are drinking in this Living Water. What is the key to receiving? That’s what this passage is all about, getting thirsty for the Lord. Jesus said it very clearly, ‘If anyone is thirsty let Him come to Me and drink’. Here is how Augustine described this passage.
“Hold on to the gift but acknowledge the giver. When the Lord promised he was going to give his Spirit, he said, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from his belly.” Where does this river in you come from? Remember your former dryness. I mean, if you had not been dry, you would not have been thirsty. If you had not been thirsty, you would not have drunk. What do I mean when I say: if you had not been thirsty, you would not have believed in Christ? Unless you had discovered how empty you were, you would not have believed in Christ. Before saying “rivers of living water will flow from his belly,” he first said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink.” The reason you will have a river of living water is that you drink. You do not drink if you are not thirsty.”
So that’s it, we are not pursuing the gift, we are pursuing the Lord. We are thirsty for Him. When we look to Jesus and worship Him we are plunged into this fountain of life. We drink in His presence and streams of Living Water flow into us and then flow out of us. Get thirsty for this blessing, get thirsty for the Lord.
