#1346. LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY(8/9/25)
- Matt Beaney
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as we begin our new vision series, Rivers, inspired from Jesus’ invitation in John 7.
Today, as we begin this new series, we reflect on how Jesus’ call to receive living water is for the thirsty—and we ask ourselves: Do I still have a healthy thirst for Him?
You can listen to this devotional below
‘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.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.’ (John 7:37-39)
1. Thirst leads to salvation
Jesus’ invitation to receive living water is first of all an invitation to salvation in Him.
You can imagine the shock. Jesus was calling out to the Jewish crowds to come to Him for living water. The Feast of Tabernacles, the context of Jesus’ words, was a joyful festival of thanksgiving for the harvest and a reminder of God’s care during Israel’s wilderness journey. Each morning at dawn, priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out in the temple, thanking God for His provision of water in the desert and praying for rain in the year ahead. On the seventh and greatest day, this ceremony was repeated seven times, creating a climactic moment of joyful dependence on God. At that very moment, Jesus declared: “This points to me! I am the true source of living water. I am the one who saves you!”
The crowd responded in different ways, but here’s the truth: only the thirsty will come. Salvation begins with the Spirit’s work of awakening thirst. He convicts us of sin, opens our eyes to our need, and draws us to Christ. From start to finish - conviction, repentance, faith, and final glorification - salvation is God’s gift of grace.
Jesus said:
‘“When he [the Spirit] comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness and judgment…”’ (John 16:8)
No one comes to Christ unless the Spirit first stirs a thirst within them. When we hear Jesus’ invitation and come, He gives us new birth (regeneration) and a new standing with God (justification).
Jesus’ cry also echoes God’s invitation through Isaiah:
‘“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!”’ (Isaiah 55:1)
This is the free gift of salvation- for anyone who will come and drink.
2. Thirst is a mark of a healthy Christian
Spiritual thirst not only leads us to Christ for salvation—it should remain the mark of a healthy Christian life.
Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever drinks His living water will never thirst again (John 4:13–14). And yet, paradoxically, a true believer will always hunger and thirst for more of Him. Like a healthy appetite in a child shows life, so spiritual thirst shows health and growth in the Christian.
The psalmist expresses this beautifully:
‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?’ (Psalm 42:1–2)
A healthy Christian keeps thirsting for Jesus’ presence, feeding on His Word, and seeking to be filled with His Spirit.
Response
Am I alert to the spiritual thirst in those around me and am I ready to point them to Christ?
Am I still hungering and thirsting for the presence of Jesus? Am I feeding on His Word and am I seeking to be in His presence each day?
Community Group Notes
This week and next, we don't have our usual Community Groups. Instead, on the 9th and 17th (in the building, beginning at 7:00pm with a meal), we have this year's Together evenings. Please make every effort to come along to worship, be inspired and fellowship together.
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