Are You Thirsty?

As I sat at my desk writing this devotional, I was looking at a cart on the other side of my office holding bottles of water. These were left over from those we purchased to sell at the Puerto Rican Day parade a few weeks ago. It made me ponder. Here in America, we can turn on any faucet and fill a glass of water. If we choose, we can also buy a bottle of water at any grocery or convenience store. We really don’t even think twice about it. Are you thirsty? Grab a glass and fill it up.

That is not the case in most of the rest of the world. Water (clean, drinkable water I should say) is a treasured commodity. When we first traveled to Haiti with a mission team, we would see women walking with containers balanced on their heads full of water. They sometimes have to walk miles to a fresh, clean, water source, fill up their containers and then walk back. It was hard to believe in the 21st century that this was still necessary, but it is the reality for most of the world.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar, he said to her, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:13-14). This woman had been married five times previously and was currently living with a man. Nonetheless, Jesus was offering her living water – eternal life. Again, later, Jesus attended Jewish Festival of Shelters in Galilee and the Bible says, “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.) (John 7:37-39).

You see, unlike earthbound water, this water – the Holy Spirit – is not a scarce commodity. It is available everywhere to everyone who confesses, repents, and believes. The Samaritan woman was stunned that Jesus would even speak to her. First, men did not commonly address women at that time and Jews absolutely did not associate with Samaritans. In fact, there was also a specific reason she was at the well at noontime. At noontime the sun is at its peak, and it is hot. Most people went to the well earlier in the morning when the temperatures were cooler, and it was more comfortable. Why did this woman wait until noon? She was an outcast. A pariah rejected by her community because she was a five-time divorcee and living with a man now to whom she was not married. None of that mattered to Jesus though. Anyone who confesses, repents, and believes in Him can receive His mercy, grace, and forgiveness. In fact, this Samaritan woman was the first human being on earth whom Jesus told, “I Am the Messiah” (John 4:26)! She ends up being a powerful evangelist. The Bible says many Samaritans from her village came to faith in Jesus because of her testimony. Yeah, she offered living water to even those who had rejected her. That’s what a transformed heart does. 

My friends, her story is our story. No matter what our past might include. No matter what we may be doing now. If we confess, repent, and believe, we too can partake of the living water which will grant us eternal life. We don’t have to dig for it or walk miles to collect it. We don’t have to be perfect to receive it. Anyone who is thirsty is welcome. Anyone who believes in Him can come and drink! Are you thirsty?   

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Remember you can email praises and petitions to southchurchprayer@gmail.com. I lift them up every Wednesday at 4:00 pm on Facebook Live.