JESUS, THE ULTIMATE THIRST-QUENCHER

Let no one persuade you otherwise, Jesus is the Living Water without whom we have no real life.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES        by Sally Bair

Needed rain

           

The raspberry crop in my neighbor’s garden started strong. Big, juicy, sweet berries filled my gallon pails. Then the lack of rain almost brought the crop to an end, the berries turning smaller, harder, and less abundant. Other varieties of berries are also suffering from dryness. I picture them crying out for moisture, panting like thirsty dogs. We would too if we went without daily drinks of water, our most needed substance for life.

We also need the Living Water of Christ to keep us spiritually hydrated and fruitful. Jesus asked a woman at a well in Samaria one day for a drink of water. He explained to her that anyone drinking of the well water would thirst again. However, He told her “ … whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)

The woman had drunk of the waters of unclean living. When she discovered the Living Water, she couldn’t wait to tell everyone in her town about Jesus, the Source. Some of us also turn to other sources of “water” such as alcohol, drugs, even busyness, to quench the thirst in our soul. But eventually our faith will wither and our Christian service sour. When we neglect our daily drinks for our spirit, we can become as dry and shriveled as a drought-damaged berry, without substance and sweetness.       

Like the dry berries, our very bones can become brittle. The prophet Ezekiel, by the Holy Spirit’s power, witnessed a vision of a valley of dry bones that represented the Israelites who had resorted to worshiping false gods. Their rebellion, evil acts, and idolatry caused God to turn away from them until they died on the vine, so to speak, drier and more shriveled than raspberries.

But God, in His infinite patience, breathed life back into them just as He had promised. (See Ezekiel 37) He will breathe life back into our thirsty souls, too, when we ask.

Lord, thank You for being our breath and our living water. Revive us, that we may bear the sweet fruit of Your Spirit and that we may glorify You. Bless our daily meditation on Your Word and our fellowship with other believers to help us along in our spiritual walk with You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.