On a recent vacation, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The house where we stayed was on the beach. From the balcony, we looked out at what seemed to be an endless supply of beautiful blue ocean water. But as beautiful as it was, I knew that a drink of this vast supply of salty water would not refresh me; it will only make me thirstier. I wanted water that was fresh, cool, and clean.

In John chapter 7, Jesus’ disciples went to Judea for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles (vv. 2–3). Jesus went in secret, partway through the festival, because the Jewish leaders were pursuing Him, seeking to kill Him (vv. 1, 8). In John 7:37, Jesus spoke to the crowd on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The practice of the week required the priests to walk from the pool of Siloam and pour out water at the base of the altar at the Temple. On the seventh day there was a special ceremony.

It is possible that Jesus used this event to reinforce the meaning of His words to the crowd: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (v. 37). Think about it. Parched and thirsty pilgrims could be refreshed only by the water that Jesus offered. Not only would the person who drank the water that Jesus offered be refreshed, but more than that, as Jesus added, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (v. 38).

>> When we believe in Jesus we can be refreshed. But it also means that we can be a refreshment to others. It can happen because the Giver of refreshment and the source of refreshment is God. When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit Who provides us with all that we need to flourish and refresh others in our spiritually parched world.

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