I was in China recently. A few days were blisteringly hot while I was there. Not all gyms were air-conditioned.

No tap water felt safe. Our thirst was great and our bottled water reserve was taxed often. Each gulp proved life-giving.

But thirst is a good thing. It means something's happening, that someone's alive, being challenged, doing work.

When Jesus said, "I thirst," while hanging on the cross, He signaled a few very good things:

He confessed His humanity, not just His divinity. It's important that we see both in Christ. (He sees both in us.)

It spoke to His humility and selfless sacrifice, hydrating others before hydrating Himself. His living water (John 7:37,38) was delivered elsewhere before it renewed Him.

It meant He expended great energy for love. No work, no thirst. Great work, great thirst.

Reflect: How about you, how thirsty are you? For what do you thirst: for life, for love, for the souls of men? To imitate Christ? For living water?

Let's labor well and thirst well for our coming King!

A prayer to consider: LORD, I thirst for You. I labor for you. I love You. I am Your humble servant. Hydrate me like only You can. Fill me til I want no more. Amen.