The Living Water We All Need
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading:
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” - John 4:10 NIV
One hot and humid summer day, I attended a festival outdoors. After enjoying the various activities, my throat felt parched. To quench my thirst, I walked over to the lemonade stand and bought a big cup of lemonade.
But that first cup didn’t quench my thirst, so I returned to the lemonade stand a few minutes later to buy another one, only to return again ten minutes later to buy one more. It was not until after trying to quench my thirst with three big cups of lemonade that I realized what I really needed was water to drink. Therefore, I returned to the lemonade stand one more time—this time to purchase a big cup of pure water. The ice-cold water started to quench my deep thirst from the moment it touched my tongue. As I gulped it down, my desperate thirst was quenched. It was like my body was saying, “Finally! She is giving me exactly what I need.”
Looking back on this experience that taught me an important life lesson, I realized a spiritual parallel to this story: Just like my body needed pure water to keep it hydrated and protected in the intense heat of that day, my spirit and soul needs something only God can give. Scripture calls it Living Water (referring to our Savior, Jesus Christ).
The Bible shows a story in John 4:1-42 about a Samaritan woman who was a social outcast not just because of her ethnicity and heritage (the Jews ostracized the Samaritans) but because of her sinful lifestyle that was gossiped about by the women in the town where she lived. Hoping to escape their scrutiny, this Samaritan woman would make the long trek to the town’s well to draw water during the time of the day when the heat was so intense that nobody else dared to go to there. She did this to avoid facing the women who treated her poorly.
We may go unnoticed in society and at times feel like an outcast but to Jesus Christ, we are always seen, heard, understood and supported—this Samaritan woman was no exception. The Bible says that Jesus took time out of his journey with his disciples to stay behind at this same well while they went to town. It wasn’t an accident or coincidence—He planned this one-on-one meeting with this woman who was in so much pain from her past. Long story short: Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah and offered her living water—the kind that satisfies your soul when you accept it. This woman came to know Jesus as not only the Messiah she had heard about but as her personal Savior who saw beyond cultural barriers, right into her heart. He gave her hope that she never knew she needed or could have and as she accepted Him as her Savior, she became like a missionary and evangelist, running back into town to tell everyone she knew and met along the way, that she met the Messiah who offers everyone living water and salvation.
Just like Jesus met the outcast Samaritan woman at the well, He wants to meet us where we are today and offer us water that will quench our souls for all eternity. But how often do we turn to—run to—counterfeits? We may think we can quench our need for Christ with worldly things and resources. Just like I kept returning to the lemonade booth to fill my physical need with that sweet drink, we as flawed humans keep chasing after things that are not of God in hopes of filling a void within us that only our Eternal King and Savior can make whole.
We might turn our favorite foods, drinks, entertainment or drugs to fill that void. Some of us might chase fame and fortune. Perhaps we chase people for more satisfying friendships or romantic relationships. Maybe we read books or go to the movie theater to see the latest film. We even may indulge in retail therapy or go to real counseling with a licensed professional. And while taking care of our mental health is needed, even the best human counselor cannot compete with our great Counselor (The Holy Spirit) who is sent by God to comfort us in our time of need (John 14:26). We need both therapy and Jesus.
The song “You’ll Never Thirst” performed by Anointed, beautifully portrays our ongoing need for our Savior, through the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Some of the lyrics in this song say how we as humans are always searching for something to fill us up—often looking for love—but true love can be difficult to find. However, there is One who can quench our thirst today and forever. His name is Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and He offers us a drink of pure Living Water. Christ will never disappoint us because He is what our soul has longed for and when we drink His Living Water, we will never be thirsty again.
So don’t be stubborn and forgetful like I was on that hot day at the festival many years ago, thinking the solution to my thirst was lemonade. Be wise and choose to drink pure water (physically) and Living Water (spiritually) that only Jesus can give. Let’s not try to fill this void within us with counterfeits. Go to God. Fill up on a relationship with Christ. He is always here, waiting for us to turn to Him to supply all our needs and secure our eternity in His Kingdom.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
When was the last time you needed Jesus Christ in your life but turned to other things or people instead? How does knowing that Jesus offers to quench your thirst for all eternity, satisfy your soul?
Further Reading:
John 3:16-17
Acts 4:12
Acts 16:30-31
Romans 3:22-24
Romans 6:23
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/BBuilder
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