The body which is the outer man and belongs to this world thirsts for water whilst the soul which is the inner man and belongs to heaven thirst for righteousness. The soul thirsts for God only when he knows the value of life through Christ Jesus. David said in Psalms 42: 1-2, as a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Why do we thirst for God?
To be spiritually nourished
None created by God is spiritually sufficient. Jesus said in John 15: 5, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. David rose early in the morning to quench his spiritual thirst for the comfort of his soul. He knew that God’s presence would provide him with spiritual sustenance and nourishment. All who desire righteousness thirst for Jesus because he is the only food for the soul. Jesus said in John 6: 35, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Jesus is the bread of life in John 6: 48. It is written in John 6: 51, I am the living bread that comes down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The soul always seeks reunion with God through Jesus for spiritual energy. He said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Separation from God starves the soul to death. Ezekiel 18: 20 says the person who sins shall die. Is Jesus our bread of life and drink for the soul? Will our sources of food or drink take us to eternity with Jesus?
To appreciate God’s grace
It must be our nature to be thankful to God always for his unrestrained grace upon our lives and opportunities he bestows on us. True children of God become thirsty for Jesus if they have no opportunity to appreciate Jesus for his blood on the cross. David who was thirsty for the praise of God encouraged his people in Psalms 148: 13, let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
Do we thirst for God when we fail to appreciate him for his grace in Christ Jesus? Psalms 113: 3 says from the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalms 147: 1 says how good is it to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. A true and honest relationship with Jesus will make us thirsty when we break it or offend him. We thirst for God in order to praise and glorify him for his awesome grace.
To save the soul from dying
Our souls were made for eternity with God. However, for our love for sin, a number of us will lose our souls in eternity. Our souls must always be active in the Lord doing God’s will. Any dormant soul before God is as good as dead. Our thirst is for God’s redemption to fulfill his purpose for our lives. Psalms 69: 32 says … you who seek God, let your hearts revive. Only God can revive our thirsty souls by his word of life, so David said in Psalms 119: 25 my soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.
All souls stand the risk of perishing without Jesus. Jesus said in John 10: 10, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Without Jesus, our souls will perish, be harassed or be helpless like sheep without a shepherd, Matthew 9: 36; Mark 6: 34. Micaiah said in 2 Chronicles 18: 16, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd; and the LORD said, these have no master,…. Some of us are going down a steep hill rather than climbing yet we deny without knowledge. Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say there is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death. Do we feel our souls thirsty? Hell and heaven are real and frightening. We cannot deceive ourselves forever.
To renew our relationship with God
We renew our allegiance when we have life. The time to renew is now because the dead do not thirst for God but are engulfed in eternal torment based on our own faults. Psalms 115: 17 says the dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down in silence. There is no time in death or any opportunity in death to thirst for God. The opportunity to thirst for God will not be forever. James 4: 8 says draw near to God and he will draw near to you. There is no better time to accept Jesus than now.
As a warning, 1 Corinthians 10: 2 says so if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. Paul said in Romans 12: 2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing of your mind. The thirst for righteousness brings renewal of the soul. Isaiah 40: 31 says those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with the wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Jesus the final and just judge wants us to renew our relationship with him every moment of our lives for we do not know when we will be called home.
How do we quench our thirst for God?
We must depend on God through Christ Jesus in all circumstances. We must have a solid foundation in Jesus. Ephesians 3: 17 says let Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. Love without roots in Christ is no love before God. Hebrews 6: 1-2 said, therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Perfection in Christ Jesus is what Jesus wants.
We must also desire to bless God’s holy name. David said in Psalms 63: 3-4, because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So, I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. David said further in Psalms 103-104, bless the Lord O my soul. Do we truly thirst to bless God in all circumstances? As the time is running out and the world grinds to a close, may we thirst for a lasting relationship with Jesus, the author of our lives, the final judge.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, in our quest to quench our thirst, we have wandered away from you. Now that we are aware that you are the only source by which our souls will be refreshed from our thirst, we have returned to you. Accept us the way we have come and heal our thirst with righteousness in you. Give us your living water that is eternal to refresh our souls. Let our roots and foundations be anchored in your name that is above every other name. Save us to bear fruits in your holy name, Amen!!
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