“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Ps.42:1-2). “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (Jn.7:37). “Those who drink the water I (Jesus) give will never be thirsty again” (Jn.4:14).
Loving Jesus, of all cravings, thirst is the most insistent, impatient, and impolite. When we get thirsty, we’re quick to slake its demand, one way or another. Because this is true, we join the Psalmist in crying out, “Jesus, intensify our thirst for yourself. Renew our panting for the water only you can give—living water.”
Like newlyweds, reignite the passion we once had for you, Jesus—the delight we felt when we could not stop saying, “I am my beloved’s and his desire is in me” (Song of Songs 7:10). You remember those days, and long for them again, saying to us… “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me” (Jer.2:2). But “you have abandoned the love you had at first (Rev.2:4). Remember and return.
Simultaneously, those words hurt us, stun us, and woo us, Jesus. That you thirst for our love—are jealous for our affection, preoccupation, and delight … there’s no greater compliment you could give us, Jesus. For you lack nothing, but desire our whole hearts.
Why do you crave us, Jesus? Because you actually delight in us and rejoice over us as our true and eternal Spouse (Isa.62:5). Thank you… we believe you, but help us in our unbelief. Help our under-believing the Gospel. Help our “we-use-to-believe” you, but aren’t sure anymore. Or if we have never really believed you love us as you say you do, Jesus, may Summer 2024 be the most important season of lives. So Very Amen.