The Jews were celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, one of their three great annual feasts. The feast lasted seven days. The people came from all over and lived in booths. They brought their sacrifices, blew their trumpets, played on instruments, sang psalms, and poured water, brought in a golden vessel from the Pool of Siloam, beside the altar. In connection with this ceremony they used the words: "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." We can hear people say, How beautiful, how edifying, what a great feast!

But what about Christ? Who thinks of him? Who believes on him? Who recognizes him as the Saviour of the world? O how religious people can be, and yet reject the One who alone can help them!

Christ stood and cried with a loud voice to make himself heard: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." He is the fountain of life. "Thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures." Whosoever drinks the water that Christ gives him shall never thirst. "If any man thirst." Are you thirst­ing for God, for the living God? "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Let us not be deceived by outward religion. Today we build beautiful churches, and have elaborate liturgical services, but where is Christ? Without him all religion is vain. He still invites the thirsty.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee, that Thou dost supply all our needs. Thou hast made full provision for us both for body and soul. Thou visitest the earth and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water. Thou hast also abundantly provided for our spiritual thirst. Thou givest to him that is athirst of the water of life freely. With Thee is the fountain of life. May we then come and drink and be satisfied. And help Thou us to praise Thy name. Amen.