Living Water

Thursday, July 14, 2016
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Moment By Moment"1 (Lyrics)

Revelation 21:6b – I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. (NKJV)

Isaiah 55:1 – Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (NKJV)

I have noticed that more and more people are carrying a water bottle with them at all times, when they are walking or jogging, driving the car, in church, and at sports events. We are often reminded that water is good for us, even when we are not thirsty. Many of us now have the luxury of purchasing bottled water by the case. We can also refill our bottles from the tap.

Fifty years ago, I lived in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, and quite often, I would go into the city of Muscat for business. On my way back to the camp where I lived, I would on occasion stop in the town of Mattrah to have a walk around the market. There, I would see the water seller selling water to those who were thirsty. He carried the water in a bag made from goatskin. He would walk among the crowd and would loudly yell words like, "All you who thirst, come; I have water." And indeed, many did come. He would dispense it into a small cup. They would drink it right there on the spot, and return the cup to him. There were times when I was tempted to accept a drink from him, but I never did.

Water is essential for life, and the land of Israel is very dry, so there are a number of references in the Bible to water and the importance of it. Here is one of the best known ones:

John 4:7,9-10 – A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 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." (NKJV)

Jesus also said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37b NKJV)

A well-known song expresses it beautifully:

    And Jesus said,
    "Come to the water, stand by my side
    I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied
    I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried
    And I strove to remind you,
    That for those tears I died."
           – Marsha Stevens

As the water seller stood at the market place, and still does in many middle-eastern countries, so God stands in the marketplace of our lives, telling all who thirst to come to Him for living water. But so many walk by, just like I did in Mattrah. So many thirst but do not accept the gift of the free water of eternal life that God gives us through Jesus our Lord. Don't make the same mistake!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that more people would hear and accept the living water in Jesus that You so freely offer for all who are thirsty for another way of life. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada

Send your feedback to the author

1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Good words Joel.


    Another great devotional, thanks for that.


    Joel, I remember being in Ephesus one August, when the temperature was close to 50 C. Hiking through the ruins, my companion forced me to drink water constantly, even though I wasn’t feeling thirsty. “Your lack of thirst is a sign of how badly you need it,” he said. I’ve always thought there was a sermon there. You’ve captured it.
    Blessings.


    Joel, your insights and analogies always make a difference in my understanding. Your words really dig deeply into Gods Word to “open The Word” to those of us who are searching daily, always hoping to understand more and more deeply, just what God, in Christ, offers to all people; as well as trying to understand more, and more deeply, how to access and apply His gifts for our own lives – and how to help others to access/accept His offer of so many benefits, all wrapped up in something we call ‘salvation’. As always, thank you for caring enough to put your wisdom into words and sharing it with so many others. May your work and your life be abundantly blessed. Amen.


    Joel, thanks for sharing this devotional. Seems there’s a spiritual drought these days. Praying thirsty folks find the Living Water Carrier and then drink deeply. Blessings


    Hi Joel,
    Your devotional reminded me of that song “Come to the Waters” and how we sang that during our worship service some time ago!
    Glad you remind us to drink from the well that will never run dry.
    God bless you.


    Another inspiring devotional! Thank you Joel.


    Hi Joel,
    I want to thank you for each of your devotionals through which I received thought-provoking words. Thank you.

Previous Post
«
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.