Morning By Morning #165

Come!…Whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Jesus says, “Take the free gift.” He asks for no payment or preparation. He doesn’t require any strong feelings or emotions, for as long as you are willing, you may come! Do you lack faith and repentance? Come to Him and He will give them to you. Come just as you are and “take the free gift” without money or cost. He gives Himself to those who are needy.

Public drinking fountains are wonderful things—open to everyone—so we can hardly imagine a thirsty person foolish enough to stand by one, reaching for his wallet on a hot summer day, and then saying, “I can’t drink from it because I don’t have any money.” However poor a person may be, he may drink and may do so just as he is. As thirsty people walk by, whether dressed in jeans or in the finest cashmere, they do not seek anyone’s permission to drink, for the fact that the water fountain is there is permission enough to drink freely. Whether the refreshing water has been put there through the generosity of the landlord or someone else makes no difference—it is there, so ask no questions, and “take the free gift of the water.” Perhaps the only people who will go thirsty when a public drinking fountain is nearby are the highest of society in all their finery. They may be thirsty, but would never think to stoop so slow and demean themselves by drinking from a common water fountain, so they walk on by with their parched lips.

In the same way, how many people are rich in their own good works and therefore cannot come to Christ! They say to themselves, “I will not be saved the same way a prostitute or degenerate is saved. What! Go to heaven the same way as the lowest of society? Isn’t there a way to get to glory except the way taken by a thief? I will not be saved that way!”

Those with such pride and boasting due to their own achievements, possessions, or abilities must continue without the “living water” (John 4:10). But, “whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Jesus was once at “the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles” (John 7:2). At the highest point of the feast, the Festival of the Water Libation, the high priest would lead a procession to the Pool of Siloam, fill the silver vessel with water, and return to the temple. The primary aspect of the holiday is the command: “Be joyful” (Deut. 16:14). At this most joyful moment, as the high priest was pouring the water onto the altar, “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:37 – 38).

Some believed immediately, saying, “He is the Christ,” while others refused to believe “the Christ [could] come from Galilee” (John 7:41). “Thus the people were divided because of Jesus” (John 7:43).

The message is so simple, a child can understand it: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” But we must humble ourselves, for “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15).