Scriptures: John 7:37-39a (NIV) – “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 the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’  By this he meant the Spirit,”.

Revelation 22:17c (NIV) – “Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Message: While walking my dogs on a hot summer day, I nearly stepped on a strange object in the street.  It was the color of asphalt and the size and shape of a half-dollar.  Looking more closely, I discovered it was a newly hatched soft-shelled turtle, parched and motionless.  It no doubt had been searching for life-sustaining water.  Water that it had never seen, felt or tasted before, but to which it was intently drawn.  I anxiously picked up the creature to assess its fate and was thrilled when it began to move in my hand, slowly at first and then with vigor.

I quickly scoured the rest of the neighborhood searching for other nest-mates.  Before long I discovered eight more turtles in the same initial condition as the first.  I collected the tiny reptiles in a makeshift pouch, fashioned with the inverted hem of my T-shirt, then transported the squirming bunch to the spring-fed water in which they were created to live.

Witnessing the hatchlings’ reckless quest for water, led me to reflect on the ‘Spiritual thirst’ spoken of in the Bible.  The turtles were driven purely by instinct, but our Spiritual thirst is derived from acknowledging our sinful nature, which alienates us from God, and leads to our wish for reconciliation with Him.  The Scriptures reveal Jesus, alone, is the source of the Living Water (the Holy Spirit) that will reconcile us and satisfy our Spiritual thirst.  His death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension have made the way for our salvation, eternal life and for the Holy Spirit to indwell each of us who believes; allowing us to be satisfied and to thirst no more.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for not leaving us alone and desperate, but instead for sending Jesus to invite us to simply come to Him and quench our thirst.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Patti Gich