A Full Bowl of Water

A few months ago, Kim and I noticed that although, when we leave the house for the day we leave out a full bowl of water for our dog Sadie, she rarely drinks any of it until we arrive home. In fact, no matter what time it might be that we come home, whether it is lunchtime or later in the day, Sadie doesn’t touch her water. And when we do enter the house, after excitedly greeting us, she goes to her water bowl and laps up the water as if she has been out in the desert for days and we finally gave her some water. If I could get her to understand, I would tell her there’s no need to wait until we get home. The water is always there. All she needs to do is go and drink whenever she begins to feel thirsty. But she won’t understand.  

I’m reminded of the invitation given through the prophet Isaiah, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters….” (Isaiah 55:1 – ESV) And Jesus’ words found in John 7 where he says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38 – ESV) 

We might say, the water of God’s Spirit has been put out for us to receive. The invitation has been given to come and drink. But for some reason, whatever the reason, we wait, we don’t take, we don’t drink. And then we wonder why we feel so spiritually dry. We wonder what has happened to our hearts, minds, and souls. Whereas we may have once felt so spiritually alive, we have begun to feel as if something within us has begun to wither. Did we not sense our thirst? Did we not realize the water was there? Why have we not responded to the invitation? Why have we failed to come and drink?  

As we come to Pentecost Sunday (which is this coming Sunday), I want to encourage us to hear once again the invitation of our Lord to come and drink of the water of life. The water of God’s Spirit has been put out for all who thirst and all who will believe. The Spirit himself invites us to come. All we need to do is come—come to God, thirsty and ready to receive. All we need to do is drink of that which has been offered. 

There’s no need for you and me to live our lives constantly thirsty. There’s no need for us to live our lives spiritually dry. We might say, a full bowl of water has been put out for us to drink. The water of life has been put out before us. The invitation has been given. Let’s ask the Spirit of God to come, to fill us, and to quench our thirst. 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17 – ESV) 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris