Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 5, 2022
Read: John 4:1-15
1 Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was making more disciples and baptizing more than John ( 2 although Jesus’ disciples were baptizing, not Jesus himself). 3 Therefore, he left Judea and went back to Galilee. 4 Jesus had to go through Samaria. 5 He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his journey, so he sat down at the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” 8 His disciples had gone into the city to buy him some food. 9 The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) 10 Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket and the well is deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave this well to us, and he drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will never be thirsty and will never need to come here to draw water!”
Good morning! Jesus offers us living water!
Today’s passage is another very familiar one. Our earth is seventy-one percent water, but only about two percent of that water is freshwater. We have seen the strength of water during floods and hurricanes. Meteorologists follow the water cycle as they predict the weather. People have learned to harness the power of water by building dams and water wheels. Without water, plants and animals cannot survive. One of the primary characteristics that scientists look for when examining a planet's ability to support life is water. However, this is not the “water” of which Jesus is speaking.
Living water quenches our spiritual being. 14 but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” When we accept Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is working within us to transform us to give us new life, a life that never dies, a life that is fueled by living water.
Think of a time when your physical thirst was great. How did you react to that first sip of cool water? It is very likely that you gulped it down and rejoiced. Every part of your physical being was refreshed.
This is how it is with our spiritual thirst. We go through our lives being tested by many things as evil continues to make its presence known. We work to serve God, and just as our physical body needs water to be refreshed, our spiritual body needs God’s living water to be refreshed. “for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.” Jeremiah 31:25
Come to Jesus and rejoice as your soul is quenched by the living water. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Through Your Son, you offer us living water. May we accept and be refreshed in Your gift. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: What evidence of God’s love and power do I see in my life?
Open yourself to the living water! Pastor Liz
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