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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Jan 24 Come to the water of Life

Rev 22: 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come*~!"And let the one who hears say*~: "Come!"*~ And let the one who is thirsty come*~; let the one who wants it take*~ the water of life free of charge.

    A three-fold invitation is extended by the Holy Spirit through the bride or the church. Any one who hears this incredibly gracious offer is commanded to urgently and immediately extend the invitation to the thirsty and whoever wants to taste of the water of life. They should come and take it now. The Spirit and the bride [the church] together are commanded to say “Come!” not as an optional invitation to possibly consider, but as a decisive invitation-command to obey immediately knowing that the time is short and the end is going to come suddenly, at which time the offer will end.
    Furthermore, the aorist command to “immediately decide to say” means to “advise or affirm.” It is given to everyone who hears of this incredible invitation to share it. To hear means more than just to listen, but to apply or obey personally the invitation then share it with others.
    God’s great concern is that everyone should get to hear of His grace, yet, sadly, only a few are telling it anyone else. Those who know the truth are silent or secretive. Are they ashamed to be identified with Him?
    Through the Scriptures the Spirit is speaking through the church members to the thirsty of the world, and to those who want to know the truth, if only someone would tell them. The power of the gospel (Rom 1:16) begins to work WHEN His people begin to obey the command to “say,” “Come to Christ now.” The power of the gospel is evident in illuminating the darkened mind, convicting the self-deceived sinner and drawing the spirit of the unbeliever to want to know Christ. We can trust in the power of the gospel.
    The thirsty and seekers of truth will be drawn to the gift of His gracious offer of the water of life. Jesus had promised the “water of life” to the Samaritan woman (John 4:10-15). He told the Pharisees, “whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37), but they were neither thirsty nor willing, yet Jesus told them as well.
    The water was a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which likewise is free to drink and is incorporated into our physical being in an inseparable bond bringing its life-sustaining and purifying powers into our body and mind. Likewise, the Spirit is freely received and fused within our being. His life becomes an integral and inseparable part of our life forever, even though we could never be worthy of such a bond.
    What a truth to tell, yet many in our culture have yet to hear from those who know the story. Furthermore, many other languages and cultures have no one who has ever heard of Christ’s forgiveness. There is no “bride” or church to declare “Come to Jesus.” What is your plan to tell people to come to Jesus?
    Is it a coincidence that the first command Jesus gave after the resurrection was, “Go quickly and tell…” (Matt 28:7) is remarkably similar to His last command for all the church to “say [immediately], ‘Come.’”

Psa 66:5, Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.


For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.

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