Drinking Living Water

The Bible compares longing and desire with physical thirst.  David makes this comparison in Psalm 42:1-2 when he says 1"As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

2I thirst for God, the living God.When can I go and stand before him?"

When a person or animal does not drink water, their body becomes sluggish, their vision becomes blurred and eventually their organs and body will shut down.  The human body is constantly losing water so it must be replenished continually to function normally.  The same goes for our spiritual person.  As a Spirit, we were made for relationship with the Father which is provided through the Son and fueled by the Holy Spirit.  We were created to be with God, so when we have not spent time with our Father, our whole spiritual person begins to dry up and become overwhelmed with thirst and longing. 

It is at the time of thirst that people begin to drink desperately trying to eliminate that feeling of unmet desire and fulfil the need for spiritual water.  This was the case for the Samaritan woman in John 4.  She had a desperate spiritual thirst that she was trying to fulfil with relationships with men.  The problem was that she had notoriously gone through several marriages and relationships and was still not satisfied.  She as the song says "still hadn't found what she was looking for."  Many people today are in the same dilemma.  They are going about hunting and they do not even know why or what for.  They think that a new relationship, job, city, vacation, or possession will give them that apex experience that will be the end of their search.  Sadly, many go to places other than Christ and come out thirstier than before.  This was because we were never made to be filled by anything other than God Himself. 

Jesus used the illustration of water and physical thirst to show the Samaritan woman her greater need as they sat at a well that ordinary afternoon and it changed everything for her.  Jesus told her in verse 10, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”  The Samaritan woman was still thinking on physical terms and began pondering about how Jesus was going to be able to get this living water without a rope or bucket.  Jesus revealed to her that what He offered was completely different than the physical water that had limitations.  13Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”  


Still not comprehending, she begged Jesus for the water that could eliminate her need to go to the village well as a daily chore.  This was when Jesus called for her to get her husband and she played dumb to leave that embarrassing part of her life out by saying she didn't have a husband.  Then, Jesus reminded her that she had been through five husbands and had a live-in boyfriend.  The Samaritan woman was shocked that a complete stranger could know her life story so she quickly brushed aside the blatant and obvious trespass to debate the matter of worship style (a popular go-to topic as a way to small talk and avoid the real issue). 

Jesus was not side-tracked but stayed on course by showing her that thirst and worship was all related and her life story could be redeemed with a full understanding of what these things meant when found in Him. He told her "the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”  


Jesus showed the woman that relationship with God was not about a time and a place, but it happens in the heart of a person when they see God for who He is and give Him honor as they get that understanding in their in-most being.  The woman again began to deflect her need by bringing up the Messiah (another popular topic that might not hit any touchy spots) and spoke of a future day where everything would be resolved.  25The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”26Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”^d 

How powerful that Jesus took time to offer Himself as the spiritual water to quench the parched heart of the Samaritan woman.  And just as Jesus reached out to that confused, broken woman so many years ago, it is in our confusion and thirst that Jesus cuts to the heart of the issue and says "I'm the one you are looking for."  When we drink Christ in, He is like water to us, filling us with His life so we can spiritually live. 

As we go throughout our day, the pull of the world, the demands from other people, and the exertion of energy to accomplish tasks drains us of our own resources and abilities.   It becomes necessary to replenish and refresh our spiritual cups with the living water of Christ to continue functioning and so we do not dry up.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us to refill us on a constant basis.  On the closing feast day in John 7, out of the blue with boldness and clarity, Jesus stood up and cried "“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’"^e 39(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given,^f because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)"  As we drink of Christ, he fills us with the Holy Spirit, an internal battery or force, that becomes our own well that streams forth to give the God-life to everyone we touch just like Jesus did for us!

Then there is the dynamic of dried wells.  Jesus promises that he is the well that never runs dry.  His water is a never ending spring.  Water can get trapped beneath the earth's surface in an aquifer and spring up from a deep reserve of water.  There are some reservoirs that can only stay full to a certain point.  When there is drought, that well runs dry.  This is like every spiritual water source other than Christ--it cannot fill us or stay full.  In Jeremiah 2, the prophet shares God's grief that the people were going to other sources for their spiritual drink.  He said 13“For my people have done two evil things:

They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water.  And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!"  There comes a point where sources we have gone too for completion and wholeness come up short, disappoint, and run out.   This is because the Source of Life cannot be found from things or people.  Praise be to Jesus that He is the only fountain that never runs dry.  He is the only life source that keeps flowing and giving and never ends.  We can go to Him anytime, any place for any situation and He is more than enough and has more than enough to meet our every longing and need. 

The water cycle gives us a further comparison to spiritual water.  The sun is the key component to the water cycle.  It heats the water in oceans and lakes drawing out energy and cooling the atmosphere.  As the water evaporates, it begins to condense and form clouds.  Then energy and warming of the atmosphere is released as water vapor turns to liquid in clouds and returns to the earth in precipitation.  Rain replenishes the earth and is needful for plants to grow and life to continue.


Often God comes like rain to refill places that have gone dry.  This is why spiritual revival or renewal is referred to in terms of rain. In Joel 2, the prophet speaks of the results of repentance.  When a nation gets on their face and turns back to God after having rejecting Him by their thought and deeds, He promises to remove the enemy armies, send rain, bring a great harvest, restore years eaten by worms and satisfy his people.  He says 23Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!  Rejoice in the Lord your God!  For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.  Once more the autumn rains will come,

as well as the rains of spring. 24The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,

and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil."..

26Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God,

who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.

27Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.  Never again will my people be disgraced."


God is longing to bring the rain of His Spirit to dry churches, dry nations, dry people.  Many people do not give God an access point.  They shut out the light and life He offers because it interferes with their lifestyle and the idols they have raised in their hearts that they think can do God's job.  It is only when a man is stripped of these idols and opens their heart to the living water, that God can move in with His rain and bring a replenishing of the land, fruitfulness and a  deep soul satisfaction that involves a sense of belonging, purpose and fulfillment that he was made for.

In every season and generation, God is calling out to his created beings and desired lovers to come into intimacy with Him.  He calls to the unbelievers, he calls to the believers who have forgotten who they believe in.  He calls everyone at every time, to come to Him for life.  This is what desire is.  This is what thirst is.  This is why nothing else satisfies but Him. In Revelation 22, Jesus gives one final call to anyone who wants His water saying 17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life."  Let us drink deeply of Jesus today.  Until we are filled with Him--every part--and have need of nothing more.