John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture had said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water".
This verse reminds us all of the love of Mother Theresa that flows out of her heart. It was pure and unadulterated love, not mixed with selfish motives. It is the Agape love of Jesus.
The source of a river determines the size, course and nature of the river whether it is constant or temporary which dries up in summer. Zechariah 14:8 says ‘in summer and in winter it remains the same’. It won’ t dry up.
Jesus is the Author and finisher of our faith and our lives.
John 4:14 "But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst......."
Our living rivers that sustain us start and finish in Jesus. These rivers that flow from the heart of a believer in Jesus are rivers of love, Joy, hope, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. These are the nine rivers that Jesus said flows from our hearts and souls.
Galatians 5:22, 23
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness ,temperance".
These rivers will never stop its flow or retreat when difficulties, challenges hardships like rock ,mountains etc. come on its way They produce manifold grace of Jesus in our lives. No rocks can stop the flow of the soft water. similarly we need to flow through or around the hard rocks of our lives.
There are no impurities in this living water. If love it is the Agape love of Jesus, not mixed with selfish motives. If it is Joy, it needs to be the Joy of the Lord, that is eternal and stable. If it is hope, it is the eternal assurance of living for ever and deliverance from all afflictions in this world. If peace it is the peace that passes human understanding. If patience, we must wait and know that it will happen in God, in its own time. If it is kindness, it is kindness to all people and creatures. If it is goodness, it should not be motivated by the thought of personal fame or good name but for the glory of the Father in Heaven. If it is humility, it must be like Jesus submitting to the will of God. Self control needs to be evidence in the way we submit our tongues ,talent, time, temperament, to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Our lives should flow, continually producing fruits. A river is life giving and life enhancing. Our actions and reactions should be life giving and life enhancing. We should carry the living waters of the nine rivers and give hope and power to the hopeless and powerless. A river brings moisture and healing to a land of drought.
Isaiah44:3 "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground".
Sol. Gigi Jacob AOJ