Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"Longing for I-Don't-Know-What"
May 28, 2020
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
— John 7:37-39 (ESV)
Try to picture the scene: there's Jesus, clearly in a very public place—probably the temple or nearby, where all the people are gathering. It's the final, greatest day of the Feast of Booths. And He stands up and cries out so everyone can hear, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
It is a strange thing to say, if you think about it. Jesus is obviously not talking about physical water. Everybody knew where the wells and cisterns were—they could find their own drinks. So it wasn't that kind of thirst He meant.
John says that Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit—but he adds, "as yet the Spirit had not been given." That means that the people listening to Jesus must have been a bit unclear on what He was offering! Clearly it was something good, something Jesus expected them to be thirsty for—whether they understood what they needed or not. And He invited them to come to Him to get it.
This invitation is still open today, to Christians and non-Christians alike. Are you thirsty? Do you have a feeling of "I don't know what I need but I really need it, whatever it is" in your life? If so, come to Jesus. He knows exactly what you need, and He can supply it—even when you yourself are confused and thirsty. If you ask Him, He will pour out His Spirit upon you, filling your deepest thirst and hunger. And it won't be a small measure, either—you will overflow to the point that others can drink from the abundance God provides through you.
THE PRAYER: Lord, You died and rose again for me. Give me the deepest need of my heart. Give me Your Spirit to live in and through me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. What was the thirstiest time in your life?This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
2. Are you ever tempted to fill your need for God with something else? What?
3. Have you ever felt a need for I-don't-know-what? What happened when you talked to the Lord about it?
What was the thirstiest time in your life?
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