Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. Verse 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Verse 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Verse 16"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Verse 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Verse 20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Verse 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
Devotion
Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—water of life.
Few people quench their thirst with more enthusiasm than toddlers. At a year and a half, my son, Gabe, does all things with gusto: He plays hard, eats hard, sleeps hard, gets into mischief hard, and when he's thirsty, you'd think he'd gone days without water. Gulping down his beverage like his life depends on it, gasping for air, then going back for more—it makes me thirsty just thinking about it!
Jesus understands thirst. He once offered a woman living water so she'd never thirst again. From the cross he expressed his own thirst. In today's reading Jesus declares, "Let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift." These verses are an invitation from the risen Jesus to all who thirst. What thirst do you need quenched today? Come, gulp down the water of life, and be satisfied. Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—water of life.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, your resurrection assures us that there will always be water for our deepest thirsts. May we drink in your presence today, and offer a cup of refreshment to someone else who needs it. Amen.