This year I will be sharing brief excerpts from the articles, sermons, and books I am currently reading. My posts will not follow a regular schedule but will be published as I find well-written thoughts that should be of interest to maturing Christian readers. Whenever possible, I encourage you to go to the source and read the complete work of the author.
The spiritual life is lived between two polarities: our sin and God’s grace. The discovery of the former brings us to seek the latter; the work of the latter illuminates the depths of the former and causes us to seek yet more grace… The heart-conviction of sin is the way grace prepares the heart for more grace. (“Theologian of the Spirit”, Tabletalk, Oct. 2004)
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Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38 ESV)
Believers, have you ever considered that your manner of life should be like “rivers of living water”? Are your words and life a means by which the water of life has flowed into the hearts of others?
Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (John 7:37) We may be on the brink of hell, but our almighty God is able to lift us up and away from the flames to quench our thirst. God teaches us that self-strength, self-wisdom, and self-righteousness will fail. If you thirst, you must go to Christ. A “river of living water” begins to flow in the heart of a man when he comes to Christ and drinks.
The man who comes to Christ shall not only have an abundant supply for his own soul, but shall also be a source of blessing to others. Is a man converted only for himself? The conversion of one leads to the conversion of others. This is the work and power of God. Every believer may be to someone a “river of living water” – through whom the Holy Spirit comes by grace to the glory of Christ.
Do you now thirst for the truth of God’s Word? Have you now gone your own way for so long that you find yourself in a spiritual desert? The Bible tells us that many others have visited that same desert and lived. Remember that our God is a God of mercy. (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)
The Christian knows what it is to hunger and thirst when it seems that God has hidden His face. Even then, however, God is at work in your heart. If you were truly abandoned by the Holy Spirit, your life would be “a dry and weary land where there is no water”. (Psalm 63:1 ESV) Praise God that He does not leave us in such a condition! Pray and God will send Christian people into your life to be channels of “living water” in order that you may become a channel of “living water” to others. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you the water of life.
No matter how painful your life’s journey has been, “living water” changes everything. As a Christian, you should be sharing the “living water” given to you with those who still thirst. God calls people into His kingdom through instruments; you are one of those instruments if you are a Christian. The Word of God has made you a vessel of “living water” which you are to share with others.
Filed under: Bible, Christianity, Faith, Grace, Holiness, Jesus Christ, Samuel A. Cain, Samuel at Gilgal, Worship | 3 Comments »
Sinclair B. Ferguson
Samuel at Gilgal 