“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
(John 7:37-38)
The Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift and glorious reality that has been given to anyone that would receive it. The life brought about by the reception and belief in the Spirit is something that could hardly be described by words, and even less understood by those who have not personally experienced the transformational power of the Spirit of Christ. The power and grace that comes from experiencing the Father directly through His Spirit cannot simply be experienced and then forgotten. Intimacy with the Father is something that spurs us on to sharing our love with the entire world.
Unlike the time in which Jesus was alive, the Spirit has now been given, and lives in us, conforming us to the image of Jesus. He promised that rivers of water will flow from within believers who drink of the Spirit. It is a well that is full of living water, which satisfies all thirst, and wells up more and more until it becomes a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
When we receive Jesus as our guest to live inside of our bodies, we start to take on His character. Just as when we spend time with a friend, speaking with them and learning their nature, so we take on the nature of Christ. In fact, it is the very nature of love itself. To live in Christ is to live in love.
To be in love with Christ is to be joined with Him and to see, feel, and think like He does. All of a sudden there is a true love for people, and a deep desire to see the well-being of all people. A major change takes place as we become the reality that is described in First Corinthians.
Love suffers long and is kind
Love does not envy
Love does not parade itself
Is not puffed up
Does not behave rudely
Does not seek its own
Is not provoked
Thinks no evil
Does not rejoice in iniquity
But rejoices in the truth
Bears all things
Believes all things
Hopes all things
Endures all things
Love never fails
The magnificent standard of Character that our Royal Roommate upholds at every moment is worth meditating on, and worth marveling at. However, one must not marvel too long, because He is waiting for us to experience this love firsthand. When we dive into the depth of His love, and live in His presence, and experience the amazing God that would become man and die in the name of love, there will never be any thirst again.
Living and walking in love is paramount in a believer’s life. If we do not walk in love, there is no value in anything we do.
