“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.” John 7:37-39
“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
On the last day feast of booths, which commemorated God’s faithful provision during Israel’s wilderness journeying, Jesus drew attention to their desert lifeline, water. In remembrance of God’s magnificent supply for their physical thirst, He announces that those who spiritually thirst can come to Him and receive living water. His was one that slaked soul thirst forever and flowed forth with Christ’s love and life. (John 4:10-14)
In order to guard our hearts, we need honest assessment of what we allow in and what issues forth. We might think we’re careful about what we let in, yet see that what comes out indicates anything but Christ. It is impossible to be filled with filth and soul pollution and be able to issue love and grace, just as it is impossible, when filled with His Spirit, to flow with anything but.
What does our heart outflow portray? What do we sound like? Is our default response to people and problems around us to nay-say, grouse, let fly irritations or criticisms or harsh correction? What do these reveal about pride and pompous self-righteousness in our hearts? Is it more important for us to be right or have the last say or ‘win,’ or for us to promote love and Christ-likeness? How about our embrace of others unlike us, who make us uncomfortable? Do we ignore or snub, or set aside our preferences to serve them? What will it take to gracefully agree with someone, to concede, to return mistreatment or mistakes with blessing? (Romans 12:10,14,17-21)
How can we more faithfully keep watch on our hearts? In what areas is the Lord calling us to come clean so we can be renewed, and satisfied? How might we then better flow with grace, patience, genuine love, and compassion toward others?
“O for a heart to praise my God,
a heart from sin set free,
a heart that always feels Thy blood
so freely shed for me.
A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
my great Redeemer’s throne,
where only Christ is heard to speak,
where Jesus reigns alone.
A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor death can part
from Christ who dwells within.
A heart in ev’ry thought renewed
and full of love divine,
perfect and right and pure and good,
a copy, Lord, of Thine.
Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;
come quickly from above;
write Thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new best name of Love.” ~Charles Wesley (1742)
Lord, fill me to overflow with You, to Your glory.
As the rain and snow 