February 10

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

If I am thirsty, I can come to the Lord Jesus and drink of him. But if I meet others in need, I cannot pour out a cupful and hand it to them, but can only minister to their need as Christ is a spring of water in me. So I must keep on drinking if the needs of others are to be met through me.

This verse describes a true ministry of Christ that is open to us all. The Word of Christ, the living water, first enters our hearts and satisfies us. From there it wells up again to spread life around. The trouble is that the Word often ceases to live after it has passed through you and me.

For it is not a matter of how many Scriptures we can quote to other people; rather it is the outflow from us of Christ indwelling. And for that we must be ever drinking of him. No thirst will be quenched otherwise.