Monday, February 28, 2011

Marvelous Monday: Thirst

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   John 4: 13-14

I love to be in Big Church.  I'm usually with the kiddo's, but every other month I get to sit in with the big folks.  This is a treat for me.  I went on a three year dry spell from hearing the Word taught by our pastor due to the fact that I had no help on Sunday's with the Children's Ministry.  And I've really enjoyed my month this time.  We're still in the midst of the 40 days of prayer for the lost and we were back in John 4 in big church today. 

We were back on the water again to be exact.  Living water, that is.  My pastor brought out a point that I wanted to expand on.  What is thirst?  It is a physical need.  The woman at the well was confused as to what kind of water Jesus was offering her.  She thought He had some kind of magic water that meant she wouldn't have to come draw at the well each day.  What she didn't know was that she had a thirst of the spiritual kind.  She had an emptiness in her that only the 'living water' could fill.  In her present state, she had an unquenchable thirst that could only be filled by the kind of water He could offer to her.

We are the same way.  We have a thirst that will drive us to seek out any kind of water to relieve us.  But until we find the 'living water', our thirst will never be truly quenched.  When we do find the 'living water' that He has offered to us...a more refreshing drink we could never find.  We are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit.  We have no room left for the other 'dirty water' that is out there.

Once we've had a taste of the 'living water' we have no desire for the other stuff.  It's like comparing sweet tea to unsweet or Coke to Pepsi.  Once you've had the real thing the rest isn't going to satisfy.  If you've found the real stuff, the 'living water', won't you share it with your neighbor, co-worker, check-out lady, someone?  It's too good to keep to yourself!




4 comments:

Jenifer Metzger said...

Allison, I can relate to not being in "big" church. In our old church my husband and I were the children's pastors and had a children's service on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday during prayer service and Wednesday night. We went the entire three years without any church at all. It was tough. Praise God you are able to sit occassionally and be fed.

When we seek 'water' through physical or material wealth, we will continue to thirst with no satisfaction. When we seek The Living Water, we are truly satisfied. Thank you for the reminder.

Kelli said...

You are so right when you said we chase after so many other things to quench our thirsts rather than God. Great point! Like the woman at the well, sometimes we don't realize that what we are longing for is a spiritual thirst on God can quench. I was recently thinking about this too. I came up with the idea that its also good to stay thirsty. I feel like if I quench my thirst, I wont be as dependent on Jesus. Great post!

Unknown said...

Only God can satisfy that longing in our hearts. You're right, if we have found the Living Water, we need to share it with the thirsty world around us.

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

Wonderful post Allison! Only in His Living Waters will we truly find the soul-satisfying refreshment that our spirits need. :-)

Have a Blessed Day!