Day 140 "The Offer and Hope of Living Water"

Jesus had purposed to travel with his disciples through Samaria. The Jews and the Samaritans had long been at odds with each other. For many reasons this was so, but primarily because those known as Samaritans were considered by the Jews as “dogs,” or “half-breeds.” for having intermarried with the Assyrians during their exile to Assyria.

In this incident, found in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus asks a Samaritan woman for a drink of water at the well. Not only was she a Samaritan, but being a woman was also reason for a Jewish man not to be talking with her. But not for Jesus.

"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" John 4:9

Jesus countered:

"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

And added further:

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:12-14

To the thirsty, the disheartened, the down and out, the frustrated, the disillusioned, the hurting, the forgotten, the neglected, the abuser, the abused, the brokenhearted, and to the rest of us, Jesus offers us living water to live by.

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me to drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38

Look around us today. From the horizon of the Coronavirus, to the setting sun of injustice and inhumanity, our world is in the state of upheaval. It is difficult to find a voice calming enough, authoritative enough, to calm the waters and bridge our differences, a voice that offers leadership through mercy and grace towards the acceptance of one another. But take heart, in Jesus, such a voice can be heard.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

And to the Samaritan women who said that she knew that the Messiah was coming and that when he came he would explain everything to them, Jesus replied,

"I who speak to you am he." John 4:26

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

"But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23

In the midst of all the noise and upheaval around us, there is a voice speaking out to each one of us that can provide assurance, spark confidence, inspire hope, give light, usher direction for our lives. You will not find it by tuning into the sound waves of this world. No, something else is needed-a voice outside of this world, who loved us enough to enter our world to demonstrate love for us and on our behalf, provides us with a living water that can calm our restless spirits and unite our embattled differences. It is a voice that speaks out to us with the authority of the "king of kings," yet clothed in the humility of a servant.

Do you really want real change in this world? Then, allow it to be changed by this "living water." Let it start with you.

***********************************************************************************

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

In his love, I will be here, again, tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)