Come and Drink

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”

Everyone who hears this must also say, “Come!”

Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift, whoever wants it. Revelations 22:17

This scripture is part of the passage that Jesus tells John about His return. He sent the angel to proclaim His free gifts to us, the water of life. The Bride of Christ is also called to proclaim “come and drink.”

I am a water drinker, in the natural and in the spiritual. However I recently have noticed I drink much less water than I am suppose to. I may go all day and only drink 20 ounces, which is much, much less than my daily recommended allotment.

The thing is I don’t drink anything else most days either. I may have a cup of coffee or chai tea in the morning, but even that isn’t daily. Most days all I have is water!

Add to that the fact that I live in New Mexico, in the dry desert region. I know I need to drink water. When I moved here three years ago I would easily drink a gallon of water a day. Unfortunately, I think I’ve adjusted to being chronically dehydrated despite the ills that come along with being dehydrated. We adapt to our environment and get used to what is around us.

This is true in this spiritual too. Jesus said “Come whoever is thirsty.” Too many believers have adapted to their environment and aren’t thirsty for the living water of God. They are satisfied with a trickle from a pastor once a week; instead of seeking out water for themselves daily. We settle for the 20 ounces instead of filling up with the gallon that we need. We wonder why we don’t experience more in the spiritual, but we are dehydrated and don’t even realize our spiritual condition.

I believe the same is true much of the leadership of God’s body. They may drink more than the average believer. But are they drinking enough to replace what they pour out to the world around them?

I’ve seen my career as a ministry field since I became a social worker in 2001. I knew, even though although I might not have fully understood why, that I needed to be in God’s word daily. I surrounded my empty air with evangelist, preachers, pastors and praise and worship music. Church was a priority.

My children knew I needed Jesus time. I gave them permission and they never hesitated to send me into my room for some God time. My flesh is not nice to be around, and only time with God would fix me. I had to stay filled because I poured out daily. My family deserved the well watered Jackie, not the dry empty one. Yes there been many times that that is what they got, but I know that isn’t what they deserved.

When I didn’t have the energy to fill my cup, I turned the teachers and preachers to pour the water. The more I did, the more I realized I liked the water from the Lord the best. It is most refreshing. It is more satisfying and filling. I began to see that God would use the teachers, preachers, and evangelists to top off what He had already filled. It would be more of a confirmation to my soul than something new.

We have to want the living water in order to drink it though. We have to want it more than the extra time of sleep. We have to want His water more than the television show we like to binge or the extra time relaxing. We have to want it more than anything. The Word tells us:

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. Matthew 6:33

I encourage you, if you don’t already, choose today to come, come to the Word of God and drink. Drink in the water through the Bible, in prayer, and stay in His presence until you are filled and refreshed. Then commit to daily drink from His fountain.

You will find the more you drink consistently, the more you thirst for Him. The more you thirst for Him the more He will fill you. You will find you increase naturally the time you spend with Him. Then you will be able to serve him from the saucer instead of the empty cup. Your cup will be full for your family and yourself. This reminds me of a poem or song I heard many years ago: