The door creaked as it swung opened then slammed. Timothy strode in from playing baseball in the backyard with Thomas and Dad. “I getting a Gatorade surprise,” he announced. His mom, who had been working on their dinner, wiped her hands, opened the garage door and followed two year old Timothy to the outside refrigerator. He reappeared a moment later carrying three bottles in a plastic bag. “Thomas likes blue, I like green, and dad drinks the pink one,” he informed me as he proceeded across the living room and out the back door. Temperatures in the nineties made his cheeks the rosy color of his dad’s Gatorade. Thankfully my daughter doesn’t need to worry about Timothy staying hydrated. He guzzles water throughout the day just like his daddy and he makes sure Thomas has his cup too. Gatorade is a special treat reserved for baseball games.
What are some ways you’ve tried to beat the heat during the dog days of summer? Here in the Carolinas, the humidity causes the heat to cling to you. I can work up a sweat while standing still after being outside for five minutes. I’ve never actually been in a sauna but I can walk outside some days and imagine one. My clothes saturate and dry multiple times each day. I am not usually good about staying hydrated but in the summer months, it seems no matter how much water I drink, I still feel thirsty. There is only One who truly satisfies.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival of shelters, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!
For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.
But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”
John 7:37-39 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.7.37-39.NLT
God’s gift of the Spirit would be introduced during Pentecost when a rushing wind and tongues of fire loosed the tongues of the apostles to speak the gospel of Jesus to every nation, tribe, and tongue present in Jerusalem on that day. “They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!”
Acts of the Apostles 2:7-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.2.7-8.NLT
“Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.
It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.””
John 4:10, 13-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.4.10-14.NLT
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”
Psalms 63:1-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.63.1-8.NLT
Paul offers a warning to New Testament Christians that echoes Jeremiah’s Old Testament message to Israel before their exile to Babylon. Repeatedly Paul reminded believers to fix our eyes on Jesus and to think about heavenly things rather than earthly ones, eternal realities rather than temporal ones. Jesus taught this same principle. We become what we behold.
““Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body.
When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness.
And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”
Matthew 6:19-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.19-23.NLT
“Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord.
“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you on the way!
Your wickedness will bring its own punishment.
Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him.
I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
No amount of soap or lye can make you clean.
I still see the stain of your guilt.
I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 2:11-13, 17, 19, 22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.2.11-22.NLT
“Do not quench the Spirit.
Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
I Thessalonians 5:19, 21 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1th.5.19-21.NKJV
Jesus prayed for you and for me when He prayed for His first followers. The Living Word of God asked the Father to sanctify every believer by the Truth. God’s Word is Truth. His name is Jesus and He is King of kings and Lord of lords both now and forever. What He prayed according to the will of the Father is still being accomplished by His Spirit as we abide in Him, fixing our eyes on Him and meditating on His Word.
“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
John 17:17-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.17.17-20.NLT
“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin.
And there will be no escape.
But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
So be on your guard, not asleep like the others.
Stay alert and be clearheaded.
But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6, 8-11, 23-24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.2-24.NLT
His invitation stands.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.”
Let anyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.22.17.NLT
“I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”
Psalms 143:5-6, 8, 10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.143.6-10.NLT
Living Water ~CAIN https://youtu.be/Hv-8CM5NIPM?is=A6NhHOklnu9aD_u6
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