A while back I?drawn to read?S. D. Gordon?s Quiet Talks on Power (New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1903). The first chapter is titled ?Choked Channels.? At one point, Gordon is commenting on Jesus words in John 7:37-38, ?On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ?Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.?
?The stream must flow in, and must flow through, if it is to flow out, but it is judged by its direction, and Jesus would turn it outward. There must be good connections upward, and a clear channel inward, but the objective point is outward toward a parched earth. But before it can flow out it must fill up. An outflow in this case means an overflow. There must be a flooding inside before there can be a flowing out. And let the fact be carefully marked that it is only the overflow from the fullness within our own lives that brings refreshing to anyone else. A man praying at a conference in England for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit said: ?O, Lord, we can?t hold much, but we can overflow lots.? That is exactly the Master?s thought. ?Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.?? (p. 22-23.)
Father, how are You desiring to so fill me that my life overflows with love, wisdom, grace, compassion, and other expressions of Your presence? Where are the parched earth places around me that You wish to renew and refresh through the overflow of Your life from mine? I can?t hold much, but I can certainly overflow as much as You wish to pour through me.
what an interesting quote and thought. we so often take Jesus’ words about coming to him and drinking from the living water he gives, and then stop. but the passage goes on to point out that after being filled the water will flow out to those around us. I love the thoughts that S.D. Gordon draws from the passage. this is a keeper Alan.