Have you ever truly considered Jesus’s invitation to “come and drink”? In John 7:37-43, we find Jesus standing at the Feast and crying out with a powerful invitation: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
This wasn’t just an invitation for those physically present that day. It’s an invitation that echoes through time, reaching each of us today.

What Does It Mean to Be Spiritually Thirsty?

We all thirst for something in this life. Security, comfort, financial stability, purpose—these are universal human desires. But Jesus points to a deeper thirst that worldly things can never satisfy.
When we hunger and thirst for the things of this world, we’ll never find complete satisfaction. The world simply cannot deliver what our souls truly need. But when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, for Christ Himself, something remarkable happens.
Jesus promises that not only will He quench our thirst, but from within us will flow “rivers of living water.” As John explains, Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, which believers would receive after Jesus was glorified.

Why Do We Miss This Invitation?

Many of us hear Jesus’s words as a nice metaphor rather than a direct invitation to us personally. We might think:

“That was for people back then, not for me today”
“I’m doing fine on my own”
“I’m not really that thirsty”

But the truth is, we’re all spiritually parched in a world that offers many drinks but no true satisfaction. We chase after comfort, security, and worldly success, but these things never fully satisfy our deepest longings.

What Happens When We Accept the Invitation?

When we come to Jesus and drink, we receive far more than we initially sought. Yes, we find forgiveness and salvation, but we also receive:

Comfort in our distress
Strength in our weakness
Healing for our wounds
Purpose for our lives
Power through the Holy Spirit

As Jesus promised, we receive “everything we need that we didn’t always know we needed but now could never do without.”
How Does This Invitation Create Division?

Notice what happened after Jesus’s invitation—division arose among the people. Some said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” Still others questioned, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?”
Jesus’s invitation forces a response. It divides people based on how they answer. This division continues today. The cross of Christ doesn’t need any additional decoration—not an American flag, not political affiliations. The blood of Jesus is sufficient.
As we celebrate World Communion Sunday, we’re reminded that Christians around the world—despite persecution, despite differences—share in this same invitation and this same table.

How Should We Respond to Jesus’s Invitation Today?

Jesus didn’t whisper His invitation—He stood and “cried out.” His invitation was bold, public, and urgent. Our response should match His invitation.
When was the last time you were truly thirsty enough to come to Christ and drink? When was the last time you experienced communion as more than just a religious ritual?
We who have received the Holy Spirit are meant to boldly proclaim this invitation to others. Not timidly, not apologetically, but with the same urgency with which Jesus first offered it.

Why Don’t We Share This Invitation More Boldly?

Too often, we’re afraid:

Of what others might think
Of being rejected
Of not having the right words
Of crossing social boundaries

But Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give us the words when we don’t know them ourselves. The same Spirit that flows as rivers of living water from within us will empower our witness.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to:

Get thirsty. Stop filling yourself with the stuff of this world that never truly satisfies. Allow yourself to feel your spiritual thirst.

Come to Jesus and drink. Spend intentional time in prayer, asking Him to fill you with His Spirit and satisfy your deepest longings.

Become a fountain. Allow the living water within you to flow outward to others. Share the invitation boldly with someone who needs to hear it.

Ask yourself:

What am I truly thirsting for in my life right now?
When was the last time I boldly shared Christ’s invitation with someone else?
Am I experiencing communion as a transformative encounter or just a religious ritual?
What’s one step I can take this week to be more bold in my faith?

Remember, Jesus didn’t just offer a drink—He offered living water that becomes a fountain within us, flowing out to a thirsty world. Will you come and drink today?