The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. Revelation 7:17
Most gracious Lord Jesus, every once in a while (actually, quite often), I need to saturate my heart with this particular vision of your tender-hearted kindness, and marinate in its incomparable implications. Simply put, there is no one like you, Jesus… none so compassionate… so generous… so caring, and everlasting so.
Right now, in this very season of my life, I hear your loud-voiced invitation to me in the gospel, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38). Jesus, that’s not just how I began the Christian life, it’s how I’m to live each day—a thirsty man coming to you for the water you alone can give. I praise you for willing my sustenance and survival.
Right here, in this very moment of my day, you beckon me like you beckoned the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Jesus, such provision is not just for the crises of life, but also for the general daily-ness and sheer enjoyment of life. I praise you for willing my joy and pleasure.
And as though such over-the-top generosity and thirst-slaking care in this life was not enough, in John’s vision I see you as the One who, throughout eternity, will be leading us to springs of living water. Astonishing… I’ll say it again, this time with my own loud voice. There is no one like you, Jesus… none so compassionate… so generous… so caring, and everlasting so!
I praise you for being the Lamb who was slain for our sins… for my sins, and the Shepherd who slakes our every thirst… my thirst. I turn, once again, from my broken cisterns to you, Jesus. So very Amen, I pray with great thirst and even greater gratitude.