“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“See you later my little prince.” Grace knelt closer to the sidewalk. She tucked Jackson’s baseball cap over his floppy dark hair.
“Thanks, mom. Love you.” Standing on his tippy toes, he gently kissed his mother’s nose; just like she always did to him.
Grace hovered for a spell by her neighbor’s mailbox, watching her growing boy stretch those tiny legs of his while climbing into the school bus.
She relished this moment like a true Chicagoan relishes hot summer days; ignoring the heavy ‘knowing’ that it wouldn’t last forever.
This was Jackson first year of school. In a short while, kisses from his mother would be strictly off-limits. Grace had seen it before with her eldest son, Riley.
Pulling the thick cardigan tighter around her shoulders, she enveloped herself in the kind of warm hug she knew she would soon be missing.
Heading towards the rented townhouse she called home, Grace felt a longing in her soul.
The last time she felt like this, Riley was Jackson’s age. It didn’t take long for her to find a cute stranger willing to keep her warm at night.
Nine months later, Grace was peering into the deep and curious eyes of Jackson. He was the spitting image of that handsome man who was now long gone. Her lonely heart was hurt, but adorable little Jackson and his quirky little ways distracted her from it quite nicely.
Grace headed up the driveway to her empty house, pushing open the screen door. The family dog quickly dodged between her legs running in circles on the front lawn.
“If only I could run away from my life…”
But, Grace knew that even if she did run away, the minute it was still or quiet that hallow sensation would return. As many times as she imagined it, never in a million years would Grace actually run away. But, she had resolved to never risk getting her heart broken again.
She let the dog play outside. Panic started to rise in her chest as she faced the serene kitchen. It echoed with such emptiness now that both of her boys were in school. Grace was all alone…again.
“Will I always be lonely?”
It was a question that kept popping up in her head.
As if on automatic pilot, Grace opened the freezer and peered inside. She knew comfort was hidden behind the frozen vegetables. Pushing past the peas and carrots, she found her treasure nested in the very back corner: Rocky Road ice cream.
“This will make me feel better…for now.”
She deserved a reward. Life was hard enough; and she was entitled to a little bit of pleasure. Regrettably, there never seemed to be enough ice cream to fill the dull ache in the pit of her stomach.
“I’ll feel worse tomorrow.”
Grace shoved that thought as deeply as she shoved the empty carton into the trash.
In John 7:37 Jesus speaks of filling the human soul with something that will actually satisfy.
Although we are physical beings, we are spiritual as well. God created us with such depth and spiritual essence that nothing this tangible world offers will ever supply our soul’s needs.
This is where Jesus, the Son of God, comes alive. He isn’t just some character in the Bible. He wasn’t merely a great man or prophet. He was God wrapped up in human flesh. Jesus touched humanity in such a profound way that lives are still being changed after even one encounter with the living God.
Is your soul hungry for more? Are you thirsty for God to touch your life and change you from the inside out?
Many people say they are ready but they only want God for mere entertainment purposes.
God isn’t here to entertain the fleeting fancies of men or women who aren’t truly sincere in their pursuit of Him.
But, He is always ready and waiting to fill the aching hearts of those who are tired of the empty pleasures of this world. He will give you more, but only if you are truly hungry for more.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m empty. I have been for a long time. I have tried filling this void with lust that looked like love, with food, drink anything and everything else…but you.
Lord, Jesus promised that if we were hungry or thirsty, He would fill us.
For years I have heard this, and it never made sense to me. Now, I know that Jesus was talking about hunger of men’s souls.
Lord, I’m not just hungry. I’m starving. I’m starving for love, healing and peace.
I want to know what my purpose is and how I can live with joy.
If Jesus is the only way to this kind of fulfillment, I lay down every reservation I have spoken in the past. I drop those thoughts.
Today, Lord I am ready for the kind of change that will fill me up with everything I have been longing for.
Jesus, I believe you weren’t just a man. You were the Son of God who died for my sins and for my emptiness. You had the power to resurrect yourself from the dead. You overcame death! Lord, my heart feels dead. Jesus, will you fill me? Will you bring me back to life and show me what this life is really all about? I’m asking you into my heart today. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain in you, Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: John 7:37
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan