OUR NEED FOR LIVING WATER

Sometimes we need water more than others. If you’re planning a vacation with a lot of outdoor activities, chances are, you are praying that it won’t rain. On the other hand, this summer has been quite dry. Many farmers are quite concerned, especially concerning their corn crops. Some may recover with the little rain that we have had. Others will have a really hard year because it has been so dry. As things stand, I think most of us are wishing for another good soaking of rain.

 

Along with the dry weather has come a lot of heat. When the temperature nears 100 degrees, a tall glass of ice water has a lot more appeal, doesn’t it. I’m reminded of a time when Jesus was thirsty. The woman at the well was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, would even talk to her, a Samaritan. Even more shocking was Jesus offer of living water to her:  

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14 ESV)

While the woman at the well was thinking primarily of her physical need for water, and the effort it took (just read the next verse), Jesus was speaking about our need for spiritual refreshment. While we need water to survive physically, we need living water to survive spiritually. 

Because we live in a fallen world, there is much that will sap our spiritual strength. If we are not regularly hydrating with God’s Word and spending quality time with Christ, we will quickly find ourselves parched. But, Jesus spoke about the living water becoming a spring of water within us that wells up to eternal life. The living water isn’t meant to only refresh us, it should refresh others as well: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'“ (John 7:38 ESV)

If you’re spiritually parched, I pray that you are able to drink deeply of the living water today. And, may we all bring spiritual refreshment to the thirsty people around us!  

In His grip, 

Pastor Decker