He is the Water of Life

 Isaiah 41:18
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

When going on a hike through the mountains, I always like to find trails that take me to water. It may be a creek, or a lake in the valley, or a waterfall high in the mountains. There is something about water that is calming as I sit and watch it move down the valley creek, or see the reflection of the mountains on the lake surface. The Bible is filled with analogies of water that represents the life-giving presence of God. Jesus said, “​​But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Jesus is the answer to all who are thirsting for more than what this world has to offer. He is the river to anyone who will seek Him. To the rich in high places, He is there, to those in the valley of despair, He gives hope, to those lost in the wilderness of sin, He brings new life, and to those who are going through hard times, He is a spring of water that will revive the soul.  His presence comes in different forms. It may be a river, fountain, pool, spring, or even a well. We are all given the opportunity to avail ourselves of the water of life that flows from the heart of God.

Thirsty For God

 Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God …

It is speculated that the average person can go 3 days without water before the organs start to shut down. Even within a day the body becomes thirsty and we start looking for somewhere to find water. Jesus is the Water of life, and my soul desires each day to drink from Him. We cannot survive spiritually without the Water of life. That is why it is imperative that we daily come to the well of living water, and draw from the living God. We may not always be able to take a block of time from our day, every day,  but daily it is necessary that we call upon Him, and put our trust and faith in the One who cares for us. He is our substance and He provides the strength and endurance to help us stand in the face of life’s challenges. The unbeliever wake up each day, and takes no thought of seeking God, thirsting after righteousness. They are blinded to spiritual things and seek only the carnal and natural things of humanity, but the Christian has been made alive and the source of this life comes from the Living Water. Like the women at the well, He desires to give us the living water, water that will satisfy the longing of the soul, water that will fill the heart with His divine love, water that flows from the fountain of life. “Lord, give me this Living Water for I thirst for you”

Words That Hurt

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be…But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. Mat 15:18

Out of frustration and often out of fear words are spoken that hurt and damage the spirit. Harsh words spoken in anger and things said that once out are difficult to take back if at all. These things ought not so to be. They are indicative of a heart that is controlled by fear and reveal the true character of a person. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit fills the heart with love and love will cast out fear and anything that desires to hurt others. The unbeliever who has not been redeemed by God grace will intentionally use malicious words that are indented to cut and hurt, but the believer who is not filled with the Spirit of God is subject to the carnal nature that fights to preserve self. The cure to a polluted fountain is to let the Holy Spirit come and fill the heart with God’s love and take control of self. We overcome evil with good, words of blessing and not cursing.

The Fountain of Life

Psalm 36:8b, 9a “...Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life...”-

There is a fountain, a fountain of pure delight. Water of life that gushes forth, and whosever will drink of this water will experience pleasure beyond imagination. The source of this water is Jesus Christ. The water flows through life like a river. It makes its way down through the valley, places where life is dry and souls cry out in thirst. This water is not like any other kind of water. It will satisfy the thirst of the soul. It will be a spring of joy and will be everlasting. The fountain of life will never run dry, it flows from the throne of God and it’s given to anyone who desire to drink. This water is not for the selected few, it is for anyone who desires to made anew. We no longer drink from the waters of Mara. Life is no longer wretched and bitter. His water brings sweetness to life and fulfills the longing and desires of the heart.

From the Fountain

James 3:10,11 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth from the same place sweet water and bitter?”-

Is it possible for a true Christian that loves God to praise God one day and the next day use profanity and speak ill-will of someone else? Paul did not think so. He says that a fountain either has sweet water or it has bitter waters. Which one is it? It cannot be both. It is not the natural course. A person who has experience the love and grace of God will show forth actions that will reflect what God has done. The words we speak, are the words we think. What we think is what is in our heart. It is true, that in our humanity that our bodies can reach a point of stress that our natural reflects can cause us to react too quickly, but such actions can be the results of involuntary impulse. As Christians, we must guard what we say and how we say it. Always remember to speak that which is kind and up lifting. Our tongue must come under the influence of the Holy Spirit. May we be careful to always reflect what we say to please God and honor others.

Living Water

John 4: 13b,14 “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”-

You only have to look at the world culture to see that people crave pleasure. They thirst for something that will bring satisfaction. Some of the things people crave for are not sinful, but they consume their desires to be happy and satisfied. They seek pleasures that fulfill the lust of the flesh rather than seeking 1st the Kingdom of God. Those who drink “this water” will never be satisfied. There are also those who throw themselves into a good cause, in hopes that doing something good would easy the conscience of the guilt of sin in their life. The world is thirsting for love, peace, and happiness, and unfortunately many will seek it in ways that are unholy. True satisfaction only comes from Jesus. He is the water of life that is able to fulfill the deep desires of the heart with true love and happiness. The fountain of life springs forth even when life’s circumstances are hard and sorrow comes. The water that satisfies will bring joy because we know that He is near and will walk with us even though the shadows of darkness may surround. The Living Water satisfies the longing of the heart. It is His desires that we drink from this Fountain.