Morning By Morning #366

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”

John 7:37

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

“Perseverance…finish[ed] its work” (James 1:4) in Jesus, and through “the last…day of the Feast” He pleaded with the Jews, just as on this last day of the year He longingly pleads with us. The patience of the Savior year after year is to be admired, especially in light of our times of rebellion and resistance to His Holy Spirit.

“Pity expressed itself quite plainly,” for Jesus cried out, not just loudly, but tenderly. He pleads with us to be reconciled through the words of Paul: “We implore you…” (2 Cor. 5:20). How deep must be the love that makes the Lord weep over sinners. Surely our hearts will respond to such a call of love.

“Provision is offered plenteously,” for Jesus offers all we need to quench our soul’s thirst. To our conscience, Christ’s atonement brings peace; to our understanding, the gospel brings the richest instruction; and to our heart, Jesus is the highest object of affection. To our entire being, Christ supplies the purest sustenance of all. He can quench the deepest thirst, and fully restore even the most starved of souls.

“Proclamation is made freely,” for anyone is welcome. Nothing but thirst is required. Whether we suffer from the thirst of greed, ambition, knowledge, or weariness, we are invited to come and drink. Sin seeks deeper and deeper drinks of lust, thus, it is not goodness within us causing the Creator to make His invitation. He offers it freely, for “God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34).

“Personality is declared fully,” for a sinner must come to the Person of Jesus—not to works, laws, or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who “himself bore our sins” (1 Peter 2:24). The bleeding, dying, but rising Savior is our only hope. Oh, that He would grant you the grace to come and drink before the sun sets on this last day of the year!

Notice Jesus’ invitation does not mention you having to wait or to prepare yourself to come. He simply says “drink,” something anyone can do. No amount of sin can block His invitation to believe. No jewel-covered chalice is required, for the mouth of poverty is welcome to drink of Him. Filthy, blistered, leprous lips may drink from His stream of love, for they will not pollute it, but they themselves will be purified.

Dear reader, hear the Redeemer’s loving voice as He cries, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

As we face a new year, it is tempting to once again make a list of resolutions. Yet so often, resolutions are broken within a matter of days. This year may we make a different kind of resolution—one that will pay spiritual dividends for years to come. May we simply resolve to go to Jesus every day of the year—and drink of Him!

May our closing prayer of this year be that of David, who prayed,

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Ps. 27:4).