John 7:37-38 Living Water

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”  John 7:37-38

Jesus uses the image of “living water” to show the power and grace of the Holy Spirit pouring into our lives when we open ourselves to God’s love. Our old lives have been likened to dry bones in the desert (Ezekiel  37: 1-14), which come to new life through the breath and Word of God. Read those few verses, and imagine the heat of the desert, drying any last vestige of moisture from the bones until they are mere sticks, no different than campfire kindling.

Now, consider Jesus’ image of the living water, filling our bones, restoring our souls with refreshing, cooling grace. Our old lives may have fallen to the desert, drying our hearts, our hopes, our sense of worth in this world, but Jesus brought us back to life. We are made new, filled with His Spirit, His love and purpose. With God, our lives have meaning again.

Consider what Jesus says in verse 38:

“Anyone who believes in Me… Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”

Water travels where it wants, sometimes against all of our human endeavors. Living water travels, too – at least, it needs to. If it has no place to go, it builds, and builds.

Have you ever read a great book or seen a movie that touched you in such a powerful way you had to share it? You’re bouncing on your toes the next morning waiting to tell a friend or co-worker about the experience. After hearing your story, they either share your excitement and seek it out for themselves, or shrug their shoulders with a “meh” and walk away, unimpressed. No matter. It had to come out. Your joy was water building against a dam. It demanded release.

The living water from Jesus first heals our own dry bones and makes us new, but God never says He’ll give only us enough for this. His Spirit keeps flowing into us, to the point where it will spill out of our hearts, whether we want it to or not.

Some of this release comes from sharing what God has done. Much of it, though, is going to happen on its own. Our attitude towards people changes. We love more, give more, serve more, see people a little bit closer to how God sees them. Our arms are open.

NLC’s primary mission is to be “Loving, Relevant and Life-Giving.” When Jesus saves us from the desert of our old life, making us new in His Spirit, our lives become conduits for this same living water. Living wells, if you will, giving to others who are thirsty for a taste of God’s goodness. We are lights on a hill (Matthew 5:14), drawing others closer to God through the manner in which we live. We give life, because we were given life. Like water in the desert, it’s a gift meant to be poured out for everyone.

Prayer

Holy Father, make me a light on the hill, a well of living water through which You can show everyone I meet Your love and mercy.