My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2
“Not only in Christ is there the perfect supply of all these necessities, but also that the fulness becomes ours on the simple condition of desiring it. The thirst for the living God in a man [or woman] who has faith in Christ Jesus, is not a thirst which amounts to pin, or arises from a sense of non-possession.
But in this divine region the principle of the giving is this — to desire is to have; to long is to possess. There is no long interval between the sense of thirst and the trickling of the stream over the parched lip; but ever it is flowing, flowing past us, and the desire is but the opening of the lips to receive the limpid and life-giving waters.
No one ever desired the grace of God, really and truly desired it, but just in proportion as he desired it, he got it; just in proportion as he thirsted, he was satisfied. Therefore we have to preach that grand gospel that faith, simple, conscious longing, turned to Christ, avails to bring down the full and perfect supply.”
Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910) in his sermon “Thirsting For God” in Sermons Preached in Manchester: First series (London: MacMillan and Company, 1871) 131-132.
Giving someone something that causes them to thirst again leaves them empty. Giving someone something that is life-giving leaves them enriched. People need “perfect supply” that is free for all. As we lean into prayer and add faith to it during Lent we discover that to grow in generosity we must seek God in prayer with greater faith than ever.
Texts like John 4:13-14 help bring this into view. Consider this interchange between Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus answered, “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.”
I read this sermon online on Saturday at London Heathrow prior to departing for Johannesburg. It seemed fitting to hear from a brilliant UK preacher from days gone by to nourish my soul on this long journey. I feel God reminding me through reading Müller yesterday and Maclaren today to point those I will serve this next week to combine their prayers with faith.
I want that for meditations readers too. Don’t overthink it. It’s not an esoteric or enigmatic idea. It’s as down to earth and practical for anyone as any biblical. David the psalmist in today’s Scripture is eager to “go and meet with God” because God is the only thirst-quencher. We can too. I heard testimony of this from my neighbor who drove me to the airport on Friday.
“Ken, thanks again for the ride.” I said. “Happy to do it, Gary,” he said with a smile. “It’s my contribution to your global ministry this week.” Time passed. I asked, “What are you doing for Lent?” He replied. “Watching less TV, reading a Lent devotional, and spending more time talking to God and Jesus!” What a reply! The world’s channel leaves us wanting. Time with God satisfies!
While I have my remarks largely planned for the week of teaching and facilitating discussions in South Africa with about 80 board members and ministry administrators from 43 countries, I sense God nudging me to remind them to combine prayer and faith, so they too experience “secret joy” (yesterday’s post) along with “perfect supply” (today’s post). He graciously blessed me with an abundance of both on my long, yet uneventful, journey.
For His namesake, may the Holy Spirit give me ears to listen, a heart to love, and lips to speak as God leads me.