Water to a Weary Soul (2019-09-01, Verse of the Day Devotional)

“‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38 NKJV)

As another hurricane looms off our Atlantic seaboard, one of the fastest things to disappear from store shelves is bottled water. “Why is that?” one may ask. When power is knocked out by severe weather, water treatment can no longer occur. Fresh drinking water is only available, then, to those who have stored it up. Without water, we die in a matter of days. Blessed is the one who gets enough water on-hand to share with others.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Spirit of God is referred to as either living water or rivers in the desert. This blessing to the people of God is like a tall cold drink of sweet tea to a southerner or a cold brewski to those who imbibe.

The most thirsty time I remember growing up was when our family took a trip in Taiwan from Taichung to Tainan, on the southern end of the island. We were riding on a bus and commercially bottled water was a thing some 30 years in the future. We were unable to drink the water there, unless it was boiled, and during the whole trip the only thing I had been able to drink was a warm apple soda – a drink which did not slake my thirst. We finally came to a stop where someone had just boiled water for tea. Gratefully, I took a glass of hot water, let it cool until only warm and was able to quench my dry throat with that glass.

Every village must have a source of water, whether lake, stream, river or well. Once one has water, boiling or other means can make it useful, but without water the village will not survive. Jesus was in this verse speaking to the Samaritan woman who had come to the well to draw water, and used the occasion to explain how vital what He had to offer was to this woman’s soul.

In like manner, Isaiah prophetically proclaimed God’s call to the nation of Israel. He said,

“‘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.’” (Isaiah 55:1 NKJV)

So must we offer the Gospel of Christ to a world thirsty for His love. We must not be the, “do-this, don’t-do-that,” committee. Instead, we must recognize that we have a dry and weary land around us, with folks desperate for the water of life our Lord provides.

Let us be water-bearers to a thirsty world. After all, they can’t long survive without what we have to offer. The hurricane of life has struck down many o fellow-traveler. Don’t hoard the water in times of need – share it!

Related Scriptures

“‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.”’” (Deuteronomy 18:15-16 NKJV)
“Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3 NKJV)
“‘The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.’” (Isaiah 43:20 NKJV)
“‘“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.”’” (Isaiah 44:3-4 NKJV)
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35 NKJV)
“And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’” (Revelation 21:6 NKJV)
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17 NKJV)

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Pappaw Pyle