Read John 7:37-39.

In this passage, Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day festival commemorating how God delivered the Israelites from death in the wilderness after the Exodus. Every day of this festival, the priests would take golden vessels from the temple and walk through Jerusalem to the Pool of Siloam to draw water. Then they would walk all the way back to the temple and pour the water on the altar. They did this to remind the people that it was God who satisfied their ancestors’ thirst in the desert; it also symbolized the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

After the priests poured out the water, the crowd would sing, “With joy we shall draw water out of the wells of salvation.” This entire festival was designed to remind each generation that only God can quench their thirst, satisfy their deepest longing, and give them life. Only God can heal their bitterness, restore their restless spirits, mend their broken hearts, and renew their dead lives.

The final day of this ritual involved the greatest intensity of worship. And this is precisely when Jesus chose to make a shocking statement: “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’” (John 7:37-38). Jesus was saying that anyone who believes in Him will receive eternal life and will themselves become a spring of living water. In other words, the Holy Spirit will take up residence within them.

Christ alone can bless you with peace of mind, abundant joy, and meaning in life, and He promises that when you receive Him, you will also become a source of blessing to others. Many thirst for significance, belonging, and unconditional love—and His Spirit empowers you to share with them the only drink that satisfies: Jesus. His goodness will flow from within you as you share how His living water has cleansed your heart, washed away your sin, removed all guilt and shame, and made you new. When rivers of living water flow from within you, you will love others with Christ’s love and eagerly invite them to come and draw water from wells of salvation, too.

Prayer: Jesus, what a gift to have Your living water welling up within me. Help me to pour Your blessing upon those You bring into my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38).

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