Constrained by the skin-wrapped limits of humanity, Jesus was tired, so He sat down by the well of Sychar to rest while His disciples went into town to purchase lunch. (John 4:6)
You probably know what happened next. The Samaritan woman who'd had five husbands came to draw water from the well. Jesus engaged her in conversation, and, in the course of their chat, offered her Living Water. He described this Living Water as eternally thirst-quenching, eternally renewing.
She seized on the offer. "I want some of that," she told him. She wanted it "so I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw."
She didn't want transformation of her soul, or to change her lifestyle, or forgiveness of her sins. She wanted comfort (no more thirst) and convenience (no more trips to draw water from the well).
She sounds a lot like us, doesn't she?
We, too, love comfort and convenience, but that's not why Jesus came, and it's not what He promised.
In fact, He promised difficulty. The Holy Spirit would come, He told His disciples, and convict us of our sin. He'd lead us in paths that would be risky and difficult. We would have many struggles, but Holy Spirit would help us.
On my recent trip to Colorado, the "group rate" hotel was both comfortable and convenient. The rooms there are large and beautifully appointed. The beds are super-comfortable. They give you fresh-baked cookies when you check in. It's a great place to stay.
I've stayed there before, but, this time, I stayed in a low-star hotel for $30 less a night. It was a missionary-budget rate. I'm content to have a cheap hotel now because I know that I'll walk on streets of gold later.
The comforts of this world will end when we step into eternity. Looking back, they'll seem so little in comparison to heaven's riches and glory.
Comfort and convenience are not bad, but they can draw our eyes away from Christ. That was the temptation the woman at the well faced, but Jesus offered more. He gently confronted her sin and drew her to a new (and transformed) life. When she accepted His offer, the inconvenience of the well didn't matter at all.
Today, let's look at our own priorities. Do we want comfort and convenience, or are we willing to accept less to serve Christ more?
Let's take our eyes off ourselves and put them on Jesus. Let's ask how we can serve, instead of what we can get. Let's allow such transformation that we'll be willing to tell everyone, as the Samaritan woman did, "Come and see this Jesus who gave me living water and changed my life."
"but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Bear That Jesus Sent
I'll have an update on the Sam's Kids Boot Project with tomorrow's post.
#Jesus #livingwater
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