February 12 Living Water

John 7:37-39 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said, “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
 
GOD speaks. His voice changes all. He speaks in Psalms 29:3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters…4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars…7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert…9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
   From the beginning, God’s voice has formed all things to his will: Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Physical life came from the Spirit. He formed a formless void into the glittering heavens. Born again life comes from the Spirit. He formed formless souls into the glory of God’s eternal heaven.
   “Streams of living water” are words, also, to declare the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies. Here are three:

1. Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
2. Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
3. Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

   All life comes from God’s voice. God spoke his words of life in the temple centuries ago. His message continues. The Spirit still speaks, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!”  
   Yes, the voice of the Lord is life-giving power. He spoke that day in the temple to declare new life was coming to Israel, to stream throughout the earth. The Son of God declared the Holy Trinity’s promise to make all things new. Believe God’s voice. Know it’s true. Acknowledge it is life.  
 
Prayer: Quench my thirst, Spirit. Pour living water into my heart daily. Empower me to offer your Life Water to others. Amen.