"I thirst."

I've read that if we wait until we get thirsty, we're probably not drinking enough water.

These would be the UNDER drinkers.

Others might drink liquids but they aren't only water.

These could be called MIXED drinkers. You know, coffee, tea, and soft drinks that have water.

Some have trained their bodies to desire only clean water and drink a lot every day.

We could name them PURE drinkers.

BIBLICAL TRUTH

Water (or washing) is used in Scripture to refer to the life, the Spirit, and the word of the Lord, isn't it?

Here are 4 examples - 

"But whoever drinks the water I [Jesus] give him will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice,

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:

'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'"

He was speaking about the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.

For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her,

cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

so that, having been justified by His grace [undeserved favor], we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

THIRSTY FOR WHAT or WHOM?

Some look forward to drinking certain liquids, with or without a meal, such as alcohol or 100% fruit juice.

Let's call them OTHER drinkers.

If we're honest to look into the mirror of the Lord's word, James 1:23-25 what are we? 

When it comes to Bible truths and the presence of the Lord by His Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 13; Ephesians 2:18; 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 

to be an under, mixed, or other drinker can be harmful to our health. Matthew 16:6, 12; Mark 4:24-25; Luke 8:18; 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Some may not recognize that they don't receive the benefits of a PURE drinker.

Why?

They SUBSTITUTE other "liquids" and things Mark 4:19 to try to fill spiritual hunger and thirst, which does satisfy for a while. Hebrews 11:24-25

Even when some don't substitute, they UNDER drink the Father's word and life, which isn't what He wants.

Here are some POSITIVE examples of what's possible -- 

Jesus prayed,

"Sanctify [set apart, make holy] them [His first and future disciples John 17:6, 20] through Your word. Your word is truth." John 17:17

And Jesus said,

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.

But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17

TRAIN YOURSELF

Just as some only want to drink clean water on a regular basis because they've disciplined their bodies in this way,

we can also do this in spiritual things.

We CAN be like this --

My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? Psalm 42:2

Plant the seed, water it, and watch it grow as you develop a thirst. Mark 4:26-32; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?

Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline.

They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

Therefore I [Paul] do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

WE CAN BE FILLED

The Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for the salvation of the world and each person individually who will call upon Him. Luke 24:25-27; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:1-2; 10:8-13

After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." Psalm 69:21; John 19:28

Jesus BORE the spiritual thirst of all humanity so that He could satisfy it. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me [Jesus] and drink.

Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:

'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'" John 7:37

Let's come to Him and take the water of life freely! Revelation 22:17

Your thoughts?

R. Jason