Thirsty

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”                                                                                                            John 7.37b,38

John continues the narrative by telling us that Jesus is talking about the Spirit. Because Jesus had not yet been glorified, believers had not received the Spirit. But, after Jesus’ ascension, and the glorious events of Pentecost, the Spirit came in power.

And so it is today, though many are reluctant to enter into the spiritual, supernatural ways of God. Not so me! I am thirsty for Jesus and for all He has for me, not only in the glorious life to come, but in the here and now in my present living and being.

I an ever ready to drink what my Lord would have me partake of. I see myself, seated with Him in relaxed but expectant mode. We are obeying and partaking together. The Holy Spirit that powered Him through His time here on earth is available to me. The supernatural enabling of the Spirit is there for me to drink in, in copious quantities.

Now I feel greedy. I want to gorge myself on the Spirit. And all the while, I sense Jesus encouraging me. It’s as if He’s saying, “It’s not greed that motivates you to receive the fullness of the Spirit. This is the will of God at work in you. You cannot fulfil God’s purposes for you in this life without the empowering Spirit. So come, relax, and drink your fill, even to overflowing.”

Lord Jesus,

I come. I sit with You in peace and I rest fully in You. I give myself over to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. I release myself. Let nothing obstruct or bar me from the fullness of You. Fill me, and let that living water flow out of my heart and my whole being. May it touch others and wash them with Your grace and mercy, Your love, healing and blessing. I come to receive, in order to give away. Fill me, Lord, in Your holy name I ask. Amen.

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“You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”                                                                                                                        John 7.34

These words remind me, yet again, of the truth Jesus spoke, in saying, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.”

Jesus is here speaking of His return to the Father, where He now reigns in glory. He is right in saying,  “Where I am, you cannot come.” We cannot come, not on our own that is. But we can go with Him. As He called the first disciples with the words, “Come, follow me” so the invitation is there for any who will respond.

Jesus said, “You will search for me.” Many are searching today. Some are quite unclear as to what they’re looking for but I think all would respond willingly to the gift of peace and inner rest.

So, in this world of trial, tragedy and trauma, I remember the risen Christ, triumphant now in heavenly glory, interceding always for me, and inviting me, still, to “Come, follow me”.

Lord Jesus,

How can I thank You adequately for what You have done for me? I open my heart in gratitude to You.

I truly want to follow You. I ask You to equip me to share the truth of You. Open up opportunities for me to touch people with Your mercy, grace and love. Today I re-dedicate myself into Your service. Take me, and use me where You will and as You will.

You are my constant companion. I thank You and embrace You in love and in truth.

Hallelujah! Bless Your name.                            Amen.

God in charge

Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.                                                                                                                     John 7.30

There was much divided opinion as to who Jesus was, and the tension mounts as the gospel unfolds. The religious authorities seem now to be determined in their intention to kill Him. We are told they even tried to arrest Him yet, strangely, no one laid hands on him.

This raises my curiosity. What action might they have taken in trying to arrest Him, if no one laid hands on Him? Yes, my curiosity is stirred, but not to any marked degree, for the reason for this inactivity is clearly given: his hour had not yet come!

In reading this passage today, the confusion of the crowd certainly comes clear to me; the impending injustice soon to be meted out to Him is also flagged. But what impacts me most in the present reading, and especially from the last phrase because his hour had not yet come, is the undeniable fact that God is in charge.

Furthermore, and as a dedicated believer, I am certain that God is always in charge, so long as I acknowledge Him to be thus, and look to Him in any and every circumstance.

Can I live my life under the fullness of His Lordship? I want to. Yet I am conscious of those times when I seem to slip into worldly living, when I operate out of my own abilities and seem to forget my wish to be centred in Him. What can I do about this? Continue to give myself over to Him whenever I am mindful to!

Mighty God,

I desire to live as Jesus calls me to – in the fullness of Your will. I ask You to forgive me those times when I act out of my own resources without reference to You.

I pray that Your Holy Spirit will work in me to keep me focussed on You, and to lead me in the fullness of life in You. I ask this in Jesus’ name.            Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip

(Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").