43158 Jeremiah 17:7 - 8

The person who trusts in the Lord is one that lives in continual obedience to him and relies entirely on him for every blessing he wants for his body or soul. It is one who has a close walk with the Lord. A person who lives in this way is here compared to a tree that is growing in good soil on the bank of a river or even a stream. With its roots at a source of water it is able to endure the hot dry seasons when they come and maintain healthy green leaves and produce a good harvest of fruit.

As I think of this tree growing by the source of water, I think of the one who has the Lord Jesus living in his heart. Jesus is the source of living water. "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."" (John 7:37 - 38 NKJV). Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 55:1: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." (NIV) and Isaiah 49:10: "They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water" (NIV). God himself is this source of water and thus Jesus in offering the Spirit (John 7:39), is claiming to be able to satisfy peoples thirst for God. This is so well illustrated in Psalm 63:1 when king David cry's out, "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (ESV). Water is needed for life and Jesus is that source. "The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Revelation 22:17 ESV). Let us come and stay close and continually drink of the water of life.

Prayer

Father, thank you that Jesus came and paid the price for our salvation. Thank you that in him we find eternal life. As Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 ESV). Thank you that in him we find meaning and fullness of life.