In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman as she is walking to a well to get water. In this exchange, Jesus tells her that if she only knew who she was talking to, she would be asking Him for water instead.
Relatively baffled, she counters his statement by basically asking who he thought he was thinking his water was better.
Jesus goes on to say that He offers living water.....a bubbling spring water that quenches your thirst forever.
This all looks like a simple exchange between an ordinary woman going out to fill up her bucket with water and an ordinary man asking her for a drink.
What she doesn't realize initially is that this man is the Savior of the world, and He is offering her a lifetime of satisfaction.
How often am I like this woman....going about her daily business (or busy-ness), when I am confronted with Jesus' offering. I am a sucker for "ordinary" water; water that truly doesn't satisfy the longings of my heart.
Just like the Samaritan woman, I start the day with an empty bucket that I seek to fill with the things of this world.
At one point or another in my life, there have been numerous items that have filled up my bucket: things like designer clothes, purses, shoes (because if I look good....I feel good, right?); magazines (images of the ideal body...again, if I look perfect, I must be...); awards from my job to symbolize my "worth" in achievement; food (which I have used to comfort my empty heart); and even my husband has had his place in that bucket.
NONE of these things can satisfy me. Sure, they aren't necessarily "bad" things; yet they are not sources of everlasting contentment. The pseudo-wholeness they give me does not last. The good news (the GREAT news) is that in Jesus Christ, I have been given the Holy Spirit....the LIVING WATER that quenches my empty soul. His Spirit lives within me every moment of my life, and when I recognize that my craving is misplaced unless fulfilled in Him - life is so much sweeter.
There is a song I love that depicts my feelings perfectly:
Who can satisfy my soul, like You
Who on earth can comfort me and love me like You do
Who could ever be more faithful and true
I will trust in You, I will trust in You, my God
Who can satisfy my soul, like You
Who on earth can comfort me and love me like You do
Who could ever be more faithful and true
I will trust in You, I will trust in You, my God
There is a fountain, who is a King
Victorious warrior and Lord of everything
My rock, my shelter, my very own
Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne, oh yes
There is a fountain, who is a King
Victorious warrior and Lord of everything
My rock, my shelter, my very own
Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne
Who can satisfy my soul like You
Who can ever comfort and love me like You do
Who could ever be more faithful and true
I will trust in You, I will trust in You, my God
There is a fountain, who is a King
Victorious warrior and Lord of everything
My rock, my shelter, my very own
Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne
While I would love to sing this to you.....I think you would get distracted by my off-tune high-pitched voice. You get the point, though.
Nothing on this earth can satisfy our souls like our God. No one can love us like He loves us. What a relief? This truth is enough to make me want to ditch that bucket for good!!
Isaiah 55: 1-2
"Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come by wine and mile
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare!"
Psalm 63:5
"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
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