DEVOTION / Rivers of Life

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 (John 7:37-39 NIV).

River water
Mississippi—Yangtze— Amazon—Nile—Ganges! Five major rivers across the world. Rivers that shaped the cultures of their countries because clean water is such a precious commodity. A necessity for living.

In China, the Yangtze River is known as the "long river." It cuts across the whole country and is "home" to many large cities. It means drinking water to millions along its banks and tributaries. It literally brings life to much of China physically and economically.

Jesus & the Water of Life

Our Savior often used water as a powerful element in the Scriptures. We think of the "waters of baptism" and its God-given power to remove sins. We think of him speaking to the woman at the well and pointing her to the "living water." (John 4:14)

Jesus at the Temple
In John chapter 7, Jesus is at the temple.  He proclaims at the top of his lungs: 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 (7:37-38).

Have you ever thought of yourself as being a river?  As being a "river of living water"? It's not an image I commonly think of.  But Jesus takes us to this word picture, and it is worth pondering. 

Of course, this is not something that we — on our own — can accomplish.  John 7:39 explains: By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” It is God's Spirit working in us that not only works faith, but then guides our words and actions so that we become streams of God's good news and life-giving goodness.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, you are the living water. We thirst for the comfort and hope only you can provide. Bless our efforts to offer your life-giving message to the millions who need your life-saving message. Amen.

The Living Water for China
In the land of the Yangtze and beyond, 316NOW invites the spiritually thirsty to drink of the living water of Jesus. Our efforts seek to connect parched souls with the only water that will truly satisfy. Please pray for our efforts and support our work to these millions of wandering souls who desperately need to find hope and comfort.