Come!

​Meditation
Revelation 22:17—Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!”   And the one who is thirsty should come.  Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.
 

It is the last day of the year and fittingly I am reading from the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22.  I’m struck by a simple word, “come.” I hope that kind word of invitation never grows old to my eyes.  
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Imagine for a moment.  The unfathomable Creator custom designed us (Psalm 139:13).   Before you or I can think it, God already knows the words we will say (139:4)!  There is no place to hide from the omnipresent One.  There is no power that can defeat Him!  There is no argument to overcome His standards or means to live purer than His holiness.  Yet, from cover to cover, the all-time best selling Life Manual consistently reveals the ultimate Lover’s desire for us!  He wants us.  He calls us. His Spirit says, “Come!”  

Isn’t it fitting that the author bolsters the invitation with the example of one who is thirsty!   What human has not experienced thirst?  Every dried out one of us can relate to the simple joy of gulping down water.  Are you thirsty?  God says “Come!” 

I was four years old when I heard His invitation and responded.  Forty-six years later, I cannot think of one moment I wished to undo that decision.  In the most distressing trials, He has fortified me.  In the loneliest, most gut-wrenching periods of pain, He has kept me under His arms.  In times of blessing and joy, I’ve seen His fingerprints.  He is more real than any reality I have ever known.   As His child, I can gladly say, come!

If you are reading this and know inside that you have an unfulfilled thirst there is only One who can quench it.  Jesus says to you, “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of livingwaterflow from deep within him” (John 7:38).  I hope you will believe in Jesus—God’s eternal Water-giving Son!  When your thirst is quenched, I hope you will write and tell me so I can celebrate with you!   And for those who like me, answered His call, remember that each who responds should becomes!  

Inspiration
Admission of thirst doesn’t come easy for us. False fountains pacify our cravings with sugary swallows of pleasure.—Max Lucado in The Applause of Heaven
 
©2008 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)