WATER OF LIFE

John 4:10

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

John 4:10, NKJV

In biblical times, where there was no water, there was no life. People died during droughts. Likewise, unless the living water of the Spirit is flowing in us, we and our churches will have an absence of spiritual life and little vitality. Just as in the desert, no water equals death, no growth, and no fruit.

We can attend church regularly and have perfect doctrine, but without the Holy Spirit to water us, we will wither and die. Jesus talked openly about the life-giving properties of the Spirit. "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'" (John 7:37-38, NIV). By "rivers of living water," Jesus was referring to the Spirit that believers would later receive.

When the Spirit of God comes, we have new life. Without the Spirit of God, we're left to struggle with our self-effort, which is riddled by moral weakness and sinful tendencies. But when the Spirit comes, we have joy, hope, and power. Notice that Jesus doesn't refer to a drop of water but to "rivers of living water." Like a river, the Spirit flows, a force of power that comes into us and then flows out so we can be a blessing to others.

God uses water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in a slightly different way when He says, "I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily" (Hos. 14:5). We all have witnessed the grass and flowers glistening with tiny drops of refreshing water. By using this metaphor, God is saying He will be like the dew, which settles quietly in the night and coats the ground by morning.

Dew can't form when conditions are too hot or the wind is too strong. Likewise, we can't be refreshed by God when were too busy running around. And the gift of God that the Lord Jesus spoke of to this woman at the well is His free gift of salvation, which is openly available to all who will accept God's gracious offer of redemption and be cleansed of their sin by faith in Christ.

Today, people who are spiritually dying of thirst will surround most of us. Will we take water to them? Oh, they don't understand their need, nor do they even know how to ask about it, but it is still so very deep. Do we care enough to change a small witness, a kind word, or a mention of His name? Jesus was very gracious and loving with this woman as He explained her need to her. We need to follow the lead of our Savior by gently and lovingly offering water to those in need today!!!

Father, thank You for this day and life-giving water of the Holy Spirit. Lord, open the storehouses of Your abundant blessings and let them fall upon us and our family today. Lord, thank You that You sought us out when we were dead in our sins and sinking deep into the miry pit of sin, self, selfishness, and seduction. Lord, thank You that You are the living water, in whom alone are the words of eternal life and that in You we have been made new. Lord, may Your rivers of living water flow out through us to others who are in need of Your forgiveness today.

Father, we love You. Amen. !