Quench Your Thirst

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

In ancient times, every drop of water used in a household had to be carried from the local well. So each day women walked to the well, filled their heavy earthenware jars, and carried the water home. In John 4, we learn about the Samaritan woman coming to the local well and meeting Jesus.

At the well, she and Jesus started talking. She was surprised that Jesus knew so much about her. Then Jesus used the water of the well as a metaphor to teach this woman about the living water, that divine grace that gives eternal life. After chatting a little longer, she realized that Jesus is the living water.

The Samaritan woman came to the well because she was thirsty. She was thirsty for so much more than a cool drink of water, but probably didn’t know it. We need to come to the well and meet Jesus, too, because we get thirsty. Before we know it, we can be parched and dry. We need that living water or we will perish.

Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the deer panteth for the water so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

When we read this scripture, we may picture a deer seeking a little refreshing cool drink of water. But that’s not what David meant by these verses. By the time a deer is so thirsty to be panting for water, he must have water or die. In this analogy, David is speaking of his desire for God being as essential to his life as air or water. When we don’t have enough of God, we despair and feel hopeless. Perhaps that’s why the thirsty deer was a symbol used by the early church to denote a Christian’s passion for God. 

Some of us come to the well because although we may not feel thirsty, we know we need to drink the water. You might say, “How could you not know you are thirsty?”

It happens all the time in life. People stay out in the sun too long and get dehydrated. They feel sick and don’t know why. Then someone says, “Have you been drinking water?” They think and respond with, “Why no, I haven’t!” They drink water and feel better.

Others can’t even tell when they are thirsty. In nursing homes, they are always making sure the elderly drink water because they can’t depend on their body signals to let them know they need it. Spiritually, some of us are the same way.

If we daily commune with God and drink of Jesus’ thirst-quenching water, we will never have to worry about being thirsty again.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

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