“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.’” John 7:37

Coming

Since childhood, I’ve never stuck with anything for long (except my marriage). No project, undertaking, or work stayed satisfying for the long haul. At various times I’ve pursued piano, guitar, choir, sewing, writing, reading, gardening, scrapbooking, traveling, various clubs, churches, lifestyles, occupations, and personas. I’ve wanted to live in the mountains, at the ocean, and in the country (but not in the desert). No pursuit of acquisitions, or stuff, or circumstances, or comfort, or friends, or endeavors, or anything else, has ever satisfied like the pursuit of Jesus and obedience to the will of God does.

Jesus tells us to come to Him, the One around Whom all creation revolves. Come to that great, immovable Rock from Whom comes all life, breath, and being. Come to the only Way, Truth, and Life, for there is no other. Come and drink from the Fount of Living Water—that spiritual sustenance with no end. All other founts will go dry and will not continue to satisfy.

Here’s what happens: we follow all kinds of things that pique our interest, tickle our fancy, or entertain us for the time being, but they don’t satisfy us, and we don’t realize we aren’t satisfied until much later, after great expenditures of money and time, and sometimes even at the expense of relationships. Ultimately, everything else drifts off center stage, and yet the Living Water keeps flowing.

When we’re really thirsty, all we can think about is quenching the thirst. Dreams for our lives make us thirsty. We pursue the dream with passion until, as is often true in my case, we don’t want it any more, or until we reach the goal, or the dream comes to pass. Maybe we’ve been pursuing dreams, assuming Jesus will be okay with the direction we’re walking. We have that backward. Pursue Jesus, and let Him put dreams in us that correspond to His will. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

I’ve found, after decades of walking with God, that all our hopes find fulfillment in Jesus Christ—in intimacy with the Father and the Son. To state the obvious, you can’t fall in love with someone, unless the two of you come together. This is Christ’s invitation: Come to Him and drink. The thirst is in us for a reason—so that we will drink.

Don’t perish for lack of drinking when you are thirsty. He makes Himself available, and none are turned away.

“Jesus, You issued Your invitation boldly, loudly, and openly to all. We come to You today to accept Your offer of Yourself. May we thirst more each day, coming only to You to meet this need. In Your Name, Amen.”