Water of Life (Part 2 of 2)

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

We have already looked at the soil in which we are planted. But there is one important element in raising fruit trees that we forgot to mention: water. We can dig a hole, stick our fruit tree in it, cover it with soil (even good soil), and leave it. What will soon happen? The tree will thrive for a while, gaining nutrients from the soil, but without water, the tree will eventually shrivel up and die.

Images from stockfreeimages.com

Jesus said, “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.” (John 4:14)

We can spend hours a day bent over God’s Word (the good Soil), reading chapter after chapter, but unless we have Jesus Christ living inside us – that life-giving Water – it will not take root and bear fruit. Reading the Bible is not enough. It will not save us.

Let us revisit the passage where Jesus says He is the living water:

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, 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.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

John 4:7-15

The woman that Jesus talked with was an adulterous woman. She had had five husbands and was currently living with a man who was not her husband (see John 4:17-18). She had a void in her life that no man could fill – she had proven that by her multiple husbands. But when she met Jesus, she realized that He could fill her void – He could quench her thirst eternally.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Because of His great love for us, Jesus was willing to come down and offer us much-needed, life-giving water. “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) This water is offered to every man, woman, girl, and boy freely, but we must accept the free water. We must accept Christ’s gift (Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”).

If we do not accept God’s gift, our tree (life) will soon lack what it needs to live life abundantly. But if we allow God’s Water of Life to nourish our roots, coupled with the soil of His Word, our life will grow, thrive, and ultimately, bear fruit for the kingdom of Christ.

Have you accepted God’s gift? Are you drinking from God’s Living Water?

~~~

About Amanda:

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com

Like a Cicada

A few days ago, someone called my attention to a cicada that was coming out of its old skin. Being the first time that I have actually seen the shedding taking place, it was fascinating.

As I snapped pictures of the cicada, I thought of how people are like cicadas. At the moment of salvation, a man sheds his old nature like the cicada sheds his old skin, and is made a new man.

Recently in my devotions, I have been reading a lot of verses about the transformation that takes place at salvation. As a believer, it has been such an encouragement and blessing to remember the wonderful work at the cross and the hope we can have in Jesus if we accept His work on the cross. It is also the greatest privilege to see the same transformation take place in another person.

Please take a few minutes to re-read some of the most beautiful verses in God's Word about our transformation.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:21-24)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6:6-10)

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:9-11)

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

It is my prayer that each of you has experienced the joy of salvation - the transformation of the old man to the new man.