If anyone thirsts.

John 7:37-39, On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “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.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is a wonderful promise to those who believe and have received him. To the spiritual leaders of his day, this represented a threat, as we read on they were quick to condemn him simply because he was from Galilee. How quick we are to condemn others, even when we ought to be gracious and at least give them the benefit of doubt. It’s easier to assume that we know all the facts, at least those that fit with our desired result. The rulers of his day did not know that indeed he is the one of the promise, and that he really was born in Bethlehem just as the prophets had said. Can we learn to be more gracious toward others when we are tempted to assume that we know all the facts?

Give us more of your grace; fill us with your Holy Spirit to overflow in the streams of your living water!

ESV Lectionary