Sunday: The Simple Art of Drinking
WEEK 24
SUNDAY
THE SIMPLE ART OF DRINKING
John 7:37-39
We pause a little longer on this matter of receptivity. It is the secret of victory, the only secret I know. Jesus said: “All who believe in me should drink!” (John 7:38).
The difference between believers is this: some just believe, and some believe and drink; they know how to take, to receive, to drink. Hence they never thirst. Some are always thirsty, for they just believe. They assent to Jesus, but they don’t assimilate Jesus. Their minds believe, but their hearts do not receive.
I know of a missionary, a very dear friend, who became a world figure. He was leaving India discouraged and beaten. He was ardent and zealous but exhausted; for while he believed, he did not know how to drink. At a zero hour, when he was about to give up and leave India as a failure, he saw this passage—really saw it—“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life” (John 4:13-14). The missionary began to drink, began to accept the resources of God and live by them. Instead of leaving India, he went straight into its soul with adequacy and power. He had enough and to spare, and thousands were converted through him. Three young men converted through him became leaders of the Christian movement in India, and one of them led a movement which brought over 200,000 to Christ. I heard him say years ago, “For thirty-five years, I have never had a blue or discouraged hour.” Those who know him know it to be true. There was one simple secret: the believer learned to drink.
Now here is the truth about tapping inner resources: “The water that I give will become . . . a spring.” There is no inherent, natural spring—it is a gift—“the water that I give.” The gift becomes a gusher. But the resources are not ours. They are a gift, the gift of grace.
O Holy Spirit, you are the source, and we are the channels. It is not our responsibility but our response to your ability. Help us to take and take fully. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Today, not my responsibility but my response to God’s ability, that shall be my keynote.