November 1, 2017: Living Water
Today’s Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-3, Job 1, John 7:37-44, 2 Peter 1:1-11 John 7:37-44: What a dramatic moment this must have been! On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up, found some prominent place where all could see him, and cried out in a loud voice:
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Imagine all the water that would have gone with this great feast—every day a special water libation, a pouring out, of water on the altar occurred. The water was brought up from the pool of Siloam, to great fanfare and praise (the reciting of Psalms 113-118), to symbolize God pouring out his blessing of rain upon the earth. The eighth day, the last and greatest day of the feast, was the climax of the water libation. The priests are said to have circled the altar seven times and then poured out the water on the altar—with shouts of praise and celebration. And at this very moment, it is quite likely that Jesus suddenly stood up where all could see him, and with a great and loud voice cried out that all this symbolism was now fulfilled in him. That whoever believes in him should have rivers of living water flowing out of him. That if anyone thirsts, they are to come to Jesus and drink and they will be satisfied. The great promise of Jesus here is that through faith in him, we have our deepest desires met, our most ardent longings fulfilled, and this fulfillment is like a spring of living water within that keeps on bubbling up throughout all eternity. We are made new and regenerated internally by his Spirit, and so have his living water coming from within. What a great promise! Would you this morning thank God for the truth of this experience in your life? Would you praise God that you have the fulfillment of this Old Testament promise through faith in Christ? Would you seek to find others to tell about this experience? And if this is not your experience, would you now come to Christ and drink of him through faith, that you too might experience the waters of life? To receive God Centered Bible devotionals directly in your inbox, sign up here.]]>