Are you thirsty? Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (aka comforter) to those who become part of God’s family.

When my husband and I returned from a year of ministry in North Africa, I was actively seeking God’s plan. I was reading the prophet, Isaiah, who spoke about my thirst being quenched and my hunger being satisfied as part of God’s covenant promise that was worthy of my trust. I felt the inner moving of the Holy Spirit remind me that although I thought we were leaving the opportunity of full-time ministry, instead we were returning to an even more dire spiritual need in America (involving “life-time” ministry).

Do you have the resources to buy food and drink that are considered “fine”? If not, God offers the finest food and drink to all of us without cost.

What holds us back then from partaking in Christ’s offer? If it’s not money (resources) or understanding (2 Peter 1:21), then it must be will.

The spiritual battle for the hearts of mankind remains amidst the tremendous offer of eternal life.

Why? This type of faith requires a death to “self”, which means it may not feel comfortable. Enduring what is considered the “cross” (identifying with Christ), means not my will but the Father’s be done.

Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection becomes my perspective and history as well. It’s possible to be fully loved (sated) yet fully involved in God’s purposes around me (not always comfortable). It may not appear as I thought it should “look”.

For example, I can’t judge my worth (i.e. no one sees me) by how I’m viewed in a large church (business-run model vs early house-church model). This is not proof of God’s value system. My seminary professor and ministry mentor, Dr. David Eckman says it like this, “You are worth a Son to God!” This truth may be the most needed message in America today.

Amongst us, people are most valued for their skills or ability to buy the latest and greatest. Our Heavenly Father delighted in us even while we were still sinners, He sent His Son to die for us-giving us the opportunity to be made right, spiritually.

Thank you, Father, for the gift of faith!! …even as small as a mustard seed, I see that you are making it grow and spread exponentially for Your purpose. -Teresa #lovedbeyondallmeasure #trustHim #nowthatissatisfying

John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

³⁷ 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. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as^[a] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ³⁹ 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.

Isaiah 55: 1-3 NET

The Lord Gives an Invitation
“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk
without money and without cost! 2
Why pay money for something that will not nourish you?
Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing!
Enjoy fine food! 3
Pay attention and come to me!
Listen, so you can live!
Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you,
just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.