Disciples celebrate
the festival of Pentecost
An extended description of Pentecost can be found on Saturday’s devotion. You are welcome to read ahead to gain on overall sense of its meaning back then, both as a Jewish Festival of the time and as a so-called birth of the Christian church. The Saturday section ties together two ancient Jewish festivals. Today’s devotion comes out of a third one known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Let’s dig in.
Following Jesus as We Come 'n Go
John 7:37-39
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since, Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Pondering Point
We are in the week prior to Pentecost, the day that commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-39 foreshadows this day of celebration. What a great week to think about Jesus encouraging people to come to Him as they thirst (spiritually more than physically). Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the Living Water that meets that thirst, delivering on spiritual promises the world may try to match but cannot fulfill.
Have you noticed that when people stop ‘running’ and experience a slow-down, spiritual thirst will make itself known? People who don’t know what to do with this thirst try to stuff it back into some unconscious part of themselves.
Don’t do that.
Embrace the thirst and satisfy it through the Holy Spirit, God’s river of Living Water that flows within and among the followers of Jesus.
Prayer for the Day
Spirit of God, fill my life with Your living waters. Slake my spiritual thirst with Your presence and Your wisdom, satisfying not only my spirit, but my soul and body, my heart and mind – my whole person. Then flow through me to bless others with similar blessings, especially… [name specific people at this point of prayer] then finish: In Jesus’ name. Amen.