Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Don't go 'round hungry

Sitting by a well, Jesus told the Samaritan woman- "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13)

Not long after the miracle of feeding the 5000, he told the crowds who came to him, who were once again looking for free food; "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

In both places, Jesus is illutrating a truth, using one of our most basic needs in life- food and water.. Simply put, He alone can satisfy our inner desires. Problem is, many Christians walk around feeling very empty. They don't experience that "spring of water welling up to eternal life". They often feel very hungry and thirsty. Why is that?

Go back and look at those two verses.. It says "everyone who drinks this water" and "he who comes to Me". In other words, there is action required on our part. We have to come to Jesus and we need to drink the living water He offers. So many Christians don't make time for either activity, then they wonder why they feel so dry and empty. Eventually they find other desires to try and quench the longing they feel within.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) If you turn it around, you could say- those who don't hunger and thirst for righteousness shall never be content. So basically we have to choose. We can eat, drink and seek fulfillment in our relationship with God and be satisfied, or we can seek other things and always go 'round hungry.

God will lead us to living water, but He won't make us drink it. That's up to us.

Forgive me Lord

Forgive me Lord for sins long past, and those for which I haven't asked. Forgive me when I neglect to pray; instead, desiring my own way...