21 Days in the Gospel of John With Levi Lusko Sample

 A River Runs Through You 

Years ago my family and I moved from Southern California to Montana to begin Fresh Life Church, and I’m often asked what that was like. We used to have season passes to Disneyland, now we have a pass to Glacier National Park. We traded the Mouse for the moose. Both parks are fun, one showcasing the creativity and imagination of man, the other of God. Of course, God gets credit for both because He wired man to imagine and create. As we look around us, we see God’s glory. But it's God's heart for us to not only take His beauty in, but to experience it and to allow Him into our lives—to the point of overflowing and beyond. He passionately desires for rivers of life to come pouring out of the depths of our souls. He has made provision for this to happen, for the deep thirst of our souls to be quenched. 

Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." Did you notice who he said may come? We see here the qualification one must meet if he wishes to come to Christ: A thirst. The Greek word used describes a spiritual longing, a need. That's all you need to come to Christ and drink deeply. It doesn't say anything about dress, conduct, looks, language, cash, cleanliness, morals, taste, or behavior. The emphasis is not on what you have, but what you lack. The qualifications are the same as what a man must have to merit a lifeguard jumping into the water—you just need to have a problem. 

In John 4:13-14 we heard Jesus say, "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The result of believing on Jesus is a slip-and-slide from your soul. Rivers of living water flowing from your heart. Abundant life. Does this characterize your life? Or are you dry and dusty? Do people that encounter you get splashed, or do they pucker up like they just had a sour candy? The living water is not just for your own enjoyment, but to be a constant blessing to others. If the Spirit of God is in control of your life, it will be an abundant and joyful experience, caring more about Christ and others than yourself.

Remember: Jesus quenches every thirst.