Come to the river

"Come to the river all who are thirsty, come and drink

Come to the table all who are hungry, come and feast

Those who are weary,

Those who are needy,

Come receive

Come to the river, Come to the river

Taste and see......"

Come to the river by Housefires

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKVHGi1iRLE

This song “Come to the river” is an invitation from our Lord, Jesus Christ to come to Him who is the spring of life.

This is found in the book of John, Chapter 4:5-15. As an overview of the passage, Jesus had to pass through Samaria to get to Galilee. He came to a town called Sycar and rested by a well (Jacob's well). A Samaritan woman came to get some water and Jesus asked her for some water. She replied by saying "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (verse 9). This was because Jews and Samaritans weren't on good terms. Jesus goes on to tell her about the living water He would have given her if she knew who was asking and the gift of God. It then says in verse 13- 14 "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life".

This account is powerful and we can learn a lot from it, but I want to focus on the living water aspect. On the surface level, the woman would not have been wrong to think Jesus was telling her about a spring that had living water in it. However, Jesus was talking about spiritual water that gives life and satisfies our spiritual needs. The invitation was for us to drink of the water Jesus would give. We try to satisfy our spiritual thirst through many things of this world except through what Jesus offers. We want, long and search for that satisfaction but only through Jesus can we get the full satisfaction we long for.

Our walk with God needs constant nurturing and constant connection with God - it is not a one-time satisfaction. The same way we satisfy our physical body with food, water etc., is the same way we should also look after our spiritual self with the things of God - His word, His spirit. And as verse 14 says, it will become a fountain of water welling up into eternal life. It will create something good in the heart of the one who drinks it. As believers, let us constantly go to the river and be replenished and revitalised by Jesus Christ. He is the refresher of our souls and we need him on a daily basis. Everyday is a decision.

I am using this song as a plea to non/believers to come and see what God is about before completing shutting him out. Would you really want to carry on living, to then die and realise God was real all along? I challenge you to really seek God, invite him into your life and let him work wonders from the inside out. Do this with an open heart, an open - mind. Don’t go into church or the presence of God with an existing negative perception of who God is and the church is as this will not result in anything.

It says in the bible that "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) I believe we are constantly searching for happiness. We chase after the best thing to fill a sense of fulfilment and contentment. But in reality, we feel lonely inside and we have questions. But, you can find true happiness in Christ Jesus.

Do not let what others say or what you've experienced in the past with church stop you from having a relationship with God. The devil will try to keep you unbelieving by spinning lies mixed with truth to keep you where you are. He knows where he is ending up at the end of time and he is trying to take some people along with him. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). The thief is the devil and he is destruction and chaos but God wants to give you life.

I say this in most blogs but it is so true. God loves you regardless of what you’ve done, achieved etc, He wants to have a relationship with you, and wants to see you in heaven. But He will not force you, he doesn’t want puppets. He created us with free will and he will not force you to have a relationship with him. God is omnipresent- He is everywhere. He is in creation. Reach out to him before it’s too late.

If you need guidance, reach out to me via the chat options, reach out to your Christian friends or my church's website - Life Church Wigston: https://www.lifechurch.co.uk/ (which you are most welcome to do).

Stay blessed.