Come to Me (2) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

In the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any one thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this He said concerning the Spirit.
John 7:37–39 JND

Come to Me (2)
We looked previously at Joseph, then Moses, and our blessed Lord saying, “Come to Me.” We find at least one other occasion where the Lord Jesus gives the invitation, “Come to Me.” In John 7, we find it was at the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles (v. 2). This feast was to be a time of celebration and joy, both looking back to what God had done for them in the wilderness, and also prophetically looking forward to the blessings and rest of the Millennium. In verse 37, the Lord Jesus, on the eighth day of the feast, gives an invitation to those who are thirsty. Such are to come to the Lord and believe on Him and then drink of His full provision (vv. 38–39). The apostle John’s writings are full of references to water; often speaking of the Word of God, or the Holy Spirit, and sometimes of both together.

First, we must come to Him for salvation. Have you received from Him the water of life which He offers freely (Rev. 22:17)?

Then, as believers we come to Him in our thirst, which He alone is able to satisfy. Notice that religious ceremonies cannot satisfy. After seven days of the feast, the Lord knew that some were still thirsty. We must come to Him. As the water flowed out of the smitten rock in the Old Testament (Ex. 17:6), so the Holy Spirit is given to us today, because Christ was once smitten and is now glorified (cf. Jn. 7:39). When we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit will not only fill our hearts but also cause us to overflow in blessing to those around us! May we all have such rivers of blessing flowing out to others!

-- Kevin Quartell

Whom have we, Lord, but Thee, soul thirst to satisfy?

Exhaustless spring! The waters free! All other streams are dry.

-- M. Bowley