Living Water

She slid her little body down the wall until she reached the floor.  Hair disheveled, shirt untucked, legs outstretched before her, she exclaimed, “That’s the best water I ever had! That’s more water than I’ve drunk in my whole life!”

I smiled at Rachel, my kindergarten student who had just finished her turn at the water fountain. Apparently physical education class had worn her out! Her ensuing thirst had just been satisfied. She sat content, grinning from ear to ear.

Her words made me think of God’s words:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters”  Isaiah 55:1

Jesus offered that same invitation to a Samaritan woman he meets at a well. Tired from his journey, he’s sitting by the well when she comes to draw water.  Jesus asks her for a drink and in surprise and curiosity, the woman responds with her own questions.

His answers revealed Jesus’ real purpose for going to the well, to offer this woman Living Water. Water that would “become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:15

Stirred with excitement, she returns to the town and invites everyone to come meet Jesus. Perhaps her heart began to beat faster as the realization became clear. Despite knowing all about her, Jesus held out thirst quenching hope. Five husbands and current sinful living conditions did not stop him from offering her Living Water in the form of love and grace. She was thirstier than she thought.

The spiritual water that Jesus offered came to her as truth, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Living Water to quench the thirst in her soul. Instead of feeling guilt or shame, she felt free to invite others to come drink this new Living Water for themselves.

While in Ethiopia three years ago I encountered Jesus in the life of Simret. As the director of Trees of Glory  Care Point, she reflected the mission of Jesus’ life like very few people I have ever known. Working with a small staff of teachers, she cares, educates, and feeds over 100 children daily. She is guardian/mama to around twenty of them. The joy in her face was contagious as she spoke of what the Lord was doing at her Care Point.

She gave us a tour of her compound while she boasted in the Lord for all he had done. The most recent blessing was clean water. Pure joy shone on her face as she turned on the faucet behind the building housing her kitchen. She shared how one night the Lord gave her a dream of a garden, to be planted behind the building, at the bottom of a hill. The dish water would be used to water the thirsty garden below. Her excitement was contagious as she invited us to come see the garden. Today it looks like this!

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

Father, may we never take your Living Water for granted in our life. Open our eyes to see the spiritually thirsty around us. Help us to hold out the saving truth of your love and grace.

 

Who in your life needs a drink of Living Water?