TO BE THIRSTY

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

Playing a slow round of golf in mid-summer, you've decided to hoof it for the exercise on what is turning out to be not only the longest round ever played, but the hottest in temperature recorded yet this season.

Water coolers have been stationed every few holes, yet they must be tipped to present even a splash of water since demand at each is being met immediately. The paper cone holding an ounce or two of water merely whets your appetite, neglecting the much required fluid on such a day for hydration of the body.

With foretaste of your next quenching—hopefully in the next hole or two—you lumber on to the tee box, frustrated and exhausted, glancing around as if wishing someone would single you out and drive up with a gallon of ice cold water.

Though it may be unseasonable in your part of the country right now, with such a picture in mind, I am reminded of Jesus' words to the thirsty in the book of Matthew.

At first read, we naturally think (especially with a warm summer day on the brain) of "thirsting" in the physical sense. We need water!

However, repeatedly Jesus had spoken to His disciples and others of their thirsting, giving them instruction on true fulfillment, as also recorded in John's gospel:

"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood up and said 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. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (John 7:37-39, NIV)

With Jesus' strong and repeated emphasis, we can see and understand the importance of thirsting as we are being given eternal life. We must be filled by Christ.

Our next trip around the links carrying our clubs on such a slow and warm day hopefully will serve as a reminder of the true thirsting we have been instructed for and the reward in Christ that follows.

--

Brian Viers

February 14, 2007

Copyright 2007 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.