I have a question for you: "Have you ever been extremely thirsty?" Pretty much everyone knows the feeling of intense thirst and craving something to drink, especially when using up a lot of energy. The thought of summer comes to mind, when our bodies perspire under the hot sun, and literally scream for more liquids.
Let me expand on this and ask, "How many of us have journeyed through the desert without water to the point of serious, life-threatening dehydration?" I'm talking the painful, thirst for water similar to that experienced by Hagar and her son in the wilderness of Beersheba (Genesis 21:14f).
Furthermore, thirst is naturally used in Scripture when discussing both physical and spiritual thirst. This naturally addresses two things: (1) of the appetite, longing, or desire to quench one’s thirst, but also (2) of a state of dryness in which there is the necessity of liquid to quench the thirst, to refresh, and be protected from the life-threatening problems of dehydration
Here are a few more examples of thirst as it is used in the Bible: Psalm 42:1-2 (NET); Matthew 5: 6 (NET); Revelation 7:16-17 (NET). As you can see, the concept of thirst becomes a powerful tool when used to communicate spiritual truth in the Bible.
Unquestionably, we all go through times when life is painful and God feels remotely distant. But, it's during these times when our thirst for God is extreme, that we find inspiration in the promise of Jesus to provide us with living water. That is, water that satisfies our deep thirst for God. I'm not speaking about external water to satisfy our persistent physical need, but an internal and eternal source of reliable spiritual, life-giving water.
How many times has the inability of worldly things to quench our thirst and give real satisfaction to our souls, truly affected us? Has this happened often enough to change our values, priorities, and goals? And like Hagar, have our eyes opened to see the well that God has furnished, and go there to fill our skin with the water of His life?
In closing, there are many different types of thirst. There's the thirst for: power, romance,control, knowledge, adventure, success, justice, and so on. But the thirst for God is at the very core of our being. It's the way we were made. And there's only One who can quench this deep thirst!
Scripture: John 7:38; Isaiah 55:1; Psalms 42:1-2; Matthew 5:6; Revelation 21:6-7
Prayer: Holy Father, in this world of pretentiousness and quick gratification, my soul yearns for so much more; there is a deep thirst and hunger that can only be satisfied by You. I pray that I may come to your fountain of living waters and satisfy my parched, dry spirit. Then, and only then , will I find fulfillment and peace. Amen
God bless you!
Lacee
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.