He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

God employed the symbol of water flowing through a person when answering Judah’s frustration at His disregard for their fasting. “’Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?’” (Isaiah 58:3) God answered that their calloused hearts made their worship unacceptable. God counseled “If you take away the yoke (of exploitation) from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then … the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought … and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (9-11)

Jesus offered “living water” to satisfy spiritual thirst and give eternal life. (John 4:14; 7:37) But He also promised the heart so benefited would become a conduit through which would flow “rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) Those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ would become influenced by His Spirit to the extent they would “let this mind be in (them) that was also in Christ Jesus,” (Phil 2:5) - looking out for the “interest of others.” (4) and “esteeming others better than themselves.”(3) They would “overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) and they would let their lights shine to glorify God. (Matt 5:16)

The promise remains for us today. As living water refreshes us, we can effectively minister to others to God’s glory – allowing the rivers of living water to flow through our hearts. In so doing, we’ll be “His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)

Brian Beck

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) True success in this world is accomplished by self-sacrifice.  Anyone who leaves their mark upon the World must lose themselves in some great cause of science, of humanity, of country, etc.  If there is any pursuit worth such a sacrifice, it is the cause of Christ.  Christians are to live to the glory of God.  They are “not their own” for they have been purchased by the blood of God’s own son. The true disciple’s heart, actions, abilities, and influence are totally given to Jesus.  All of his being, including body and spirit are to be devoted of Christ.  The Christian has no personal rights.  His life’s goal is no longer in pursuit of selfish desires, but in passionately pleasing Jesus. What gives Jesus the right to make such demands?  He has this right because the shedding of his own blood.  The Christian has been set free by one who had pity upon his enslaved condition.   God paid a high price to redeem man from his undone condition.  God delivers man from his degrading moral condition and makes make him a son! Fellow disciple you must give to God the praise and service due Him.  All that you are, all that you have, all that you can be, is under a solemn obligation to Him. Every phase of your life must be sacrificed at the altar of your Savior.  Your mission today and everyday is to glorify God!   George Slover

"We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; (Numbers 11:5)

The eleventh chapter of Numbers seems to be a chapter of complaints, first at Taberah, then at Kibroth-Hattavah in which the Israelites were harping about the manna God had provided.  Moses lifts his voice to God:  "Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? (Numbers 11:11) The catalyst of Israel’s murmuring seems to be the mixed multitude (vs.4) that had come with them out of Egypt.  God’s chosen ones sympathized with the “riff raff” rather than being grateful for what God had provided.

The source of Israel’s complaint springs from hearts that desired to go back to the past.  (vs.2)  Dissatisfied with the manna, they craved the delicacies of Egypt.  Boredom can cause God’s people to fall away.  The joy of fellowship can lose its excitement.  Fleshly pleasure, though it is accompanied with bondage, is more alluring than the monotony of faith, hope, and love.  Sin that satisfies the flesh has more attraction than the sweet word of God that satisfies the soul.  

The Lord gives us all that we need and more. (Romans 8:32)  His word shows us the way out of the pollution of the world and points us to an abundant life.  But some, out of contempt for God’s bounty, crave the things that lead to slavery.  These mal-contents passionately desire earthly gain, lament earthly losses, and show disrespect for the gifts from heaven.

God allowed Israel’s request to be granted to the extent that the meat they so desired became loathsome. (vs. 20)  When one’s heart is totally given to obtaining the coveted object, he may receive it with its just consequences.  The lust is rewarded with unstinted gratification accompanied with a reminder that that which was so desired does not fully satisfy.  Thus, the man punishes himself, the Lord providing the means of destruction.  

God not only bestows on us with the daily bread, but lavishly imparts manna for the soul.  Like Israel our daily provisions should move us to thanksgiving.

George Slover

 

Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. (1 Samuel 4:21)

The time of the Judges is one of the most depressing periods of Old Testament history.  The early days of Samuel were no exception.  Eli, the high priest, had failed as a father.  His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, instead of being righteous leaders, possessed the character of a morally corrupt society.  Out of these surroundings, our historian briefly notes the life of a remarkably devout woman.

The wife of Phinehas, the son of Eli, gave birth to a son.  The Ark of the Covenant had been captured by the Philistines.  As this devout woman is dying, she names her son Ichabod – meaning “no glory”.  Her dying words are recorded here:  "The glory has departed from Israel!"  

The loss of the Ark was symbolic of the pitiful spiritual condition of Israel.  The Tables of the Covenant, the law that guided Israel, was lost. The mercy-seat from which Israel could be forgiven was inaccessible.  The Ark of the Covenant represented Jehovah’s favor, guidance, protection, and fellowship.  “The glory of Israel” was the enjoyment of the highest distinction that God can possibly confer- namely being God’s chosen people.

Today, God’s special people (I Peter 2:9,10) are those who have accepted Christ as Savior.  They are called to live holy lives and be committed to God’s work.  God guides them through his word.  They can receive limitless mercy through God’s son.  (I Peter 2:10)  However, God’s protection and favor can be withdrawn.

New Testament writers warned of apostasy.  When those who have known the way of righteousness, turn from the holy commandment delivered to them, the glory departs from Israel. (2 Peter 2:21)  When a local church ignores the passion or pattern God wishes for them to follow, God removes the candlestick. (Revelation 2:3)  

The presence of God should be counted our greatest blessing, his departure our most dreaded calamity.  May we do everything in our power to preserve it!

George Slover

The following is from Life, Letters and Sermons of T.B. Larimore, pg. 147,148

It is human to stand with the crowd; divine to stand alone.  It is man-like to follow the people, to drift with the tide; God-like to follow a principle, to stem the tide.  It is natural to compromise conscience and follow social and religious fashions for the sake of gain or pleasure; divine to defy fashion and sacrifice both gain and pleasure –worldly glory, too- on the altar of truth and duty.

“No man stood with me, all men forsook me,” wrote the battle-scared apostle Paul describing his first appearance before Nero, to answer for his life for believing and teaching contrary to the Roman world.  Loyalty and truth have been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves.

Noah built and voyaged alone.  His neighbors laughed, doubtless, at his strangeness and perished in style.  Abraham wandered and worshipped alone.  Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the fashion and fed the flames.  Daniel dined and prayed alone.  Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone.  Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone.  Jesus lived and died alone.

Of the lonely way his disciples  should walk, he said, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Of their treatment by the many who walk in the broad way, he said,  “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”  

The church in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses.  The church of the Kings praised Moses and persecuted the prophets.  Caiphas praised the prophets and persecuted Christ.  The church of the popes praised the Savior and persecuted the saints.  And multitudes now, both in the church and in the world, applaud the courage of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles, and martyrs; but condemn as stubbornness, ignorance or foolishness, like faithfulness to truth and duty today.

Wanted, today:  Men and women, young and old, who will obey their convictions of truth and duty at the cost of fame, fortune, friends, and life itself.