Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Are You Thirsty? I AM

In my last post, I began a series looking at the ‘I AM’ statements of Jesus. We looked at His statement in John 6:35—I AM the BREAD. Today we will continue in this same conversation where Jesus tells us we can access Living Water for our thirst.

 
Stepping off the elliptical, I gulped from my water bottle. I admit, I need to drink more water than I do. I can go hours without a sip, but when I’m thirsty, I can’t get enough.

Thirst signals the brain to tell us we’re low—time to replenish our body with much needed moisture.

The body is composed mostly of water. Our cells need it to function. Our brain needs it to think clearly. The heart needs it to pump blood. Our skin, the largest organ of our body needs water to combat dry skin and wrinkles. Water cleanses and purifies.
As much as our body thrives on water, our spirit needs to be drenched too. We need to be refreshed from the well of Living Water and Jesus is the source.
 
Jesus uses familiar metaphors. He relates the physical with the spiritual with terms we can understand. Hunger and thirst are two we can all relate to. Last time we talked about manna—daily bread provided from God. He also provided water when the Israelites were thirsty.
 
When Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, it didn’t take long for them to grumble about their thirst (Exodus 15). It makes me think of when my children were young. Whenever bedtime rolled around, everyone was thirsty. Part of that thirst was a delay tactic to grab a few more minutes before needing to go to sleep. At that moment that’s all they could focus on—their thirst.
 
Then in Exodus 17, God told Moses to strike the rock and when he did, out came fresh water for the thousands of Israelites to quench their thirst. They also learned a deeper lesson. God would provide, whether it was the manna and quail to eat or water from a rock. They needed to know He was the source of everything they needed.

He is our source also. He teaches us to ask, “Give us this day our daily bread” and to respond to His call to “Come all who are thirsty.” He is a God who sees our need and provides for us.

 
So as water is necessary for our survival physically, Living Water is a must for our spirit. We can’t survive on cloudy, stagnant puddle water. We need fresh flowing water from a spring. Jesus provides daily refreshment for our thirsty soul through His Holy Spirit within us.

Refresh your soul with daily doses of what Jesus gives:

Wordle: Daily Bread 2
Create a Word Cloud at www.wordle.net

How have you been refreshed with His Living Water?  I'd love to hear from you!




NOTE: The name, I AM, goes back to Exodus 3:14 when Moses asked God how the people would know who sent him. God replies, "tell them I Am that I Am, has sent you."  

Jesus gets some attention with this calling card in John 8:58.

Images Courtesy of Morguefile.com

Max Lucado's resources encourage us to draw near to the well of Living Water: 

 



4 comments:

  1. Jeanne, How true your words are. I love it when I am thirsty for His word, His living water. No matter what we go through.........He can satisfy us. Thank you Mom

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  2. Your heart blesses me, mom. I know you are finding comfort in the breathed Word of God this week as you miss and grieve for Memere. His Living Water is soothing your soul.

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  3. Occasionally, God reminds me that I'm parched without His Water.
    Sometimes I get up with an idea swirling in my head so I leap right to my laptop and begin to write. But my words are dry crumbs - I can't seem to get them right.
    Then God whispers: You haven't been with Me this morning. You haven't quenched your thirst. You words can't flow from a dry heart.

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  4. True words, Sherry. I too need to fill my cup before I can pour anything onto the written page. Thanks for the reminder and the nudge as I look at preparing for speaking at a women's retreat in a couple of weeks.
    Fill my cup with your Living Water, Lord!

    ReplyDelete

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