Free Gifts

 

     When Jesus comes to us it is never with condemnation, but with grace. His harshest words were for the religious leaders of His day, the rule-followers and judgment-callers, the ones pointing out faults and puffing themselves up with their fancy prayers and knowledge of God.

     Jesus went to the least of the people. His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is a beautiful example of His love. She comes to the well at the heat of day, long after the other women have come and gone hours earlier. Hearing her story (see John 4) we realize she was probably ostracized because of her five marriages and the fact that she now lives with another man.

     Jesus offers words of encouragement even before she understands the truth of who He is. He tells her she speaks truth and then He explains His offer.

 Jesus answered her. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the women said, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can You get this living water?” “Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 4:10-12

     Maybe the secret to filling continually with that living water is truth and humility. Our need for Jesus will never go away. Everything else we fill ourselves with will not satisfy. No amount of fun, or food or fellowship compares to our time with our Savior. Let’s humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to flow through us with the living water that will never run dry.

Jesus,

We come thirsty and all you ask from us is to believe. Fill us with the unending stream of the living water of life. That abundant life will follow us into eternity. Turn our lives away from the sin that entangles into the Spirit-filled life that gives us purpose and love.

Amen