John 4:13-14 – Jesus answered, "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." (NIV)

"Oh, no, he doesn't need any bottled water. He likes the tap water here. It's pretty good." The lady standing next to me in the bottled water aisle of my neighbourhood store continues her phone conversation, giving more details about that person's water preferences.

Unlike that lady, I am buying bottled water, a habit that I've acquired in the last few years. Her comments make me pause and reconsider my purchase. Do I really need water other than what comes out of my tap? There are many countries where residents would be delighted to have a source of clean water in their house or at their neighborhood well. Why do I need anything more?

Then, I think of the Samaritan woman who came to the well to draw water and received more than she ever dreamed. Jesus offered her living water, so that she would never thirst. At first, she was incredulous. He had nothing with which to draw water out of the well. Yet, out of that simple encounter, not only she, but "many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39a NIV).

On the last day of the Festival of Shelters, Jesus promised living water to all who believed in Him. Later, Jesus willingly went to the cross to sacrifice His life for us. He said, "I thirst," had His lips moistened by a sponge soaked in wine vinegar, and died. He had to die so that we could have that living water.

Not only do we need to help preserve God's precious natural resources, but like the Samaritan woman, we need to let that living water well up in us, so much so, that it pours into the lives of those around us.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live lives that honour Your sacrifice. Help us to be aware of opportunities to tell others about You and the living water that Your sacrifice provides for us. Amen.

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About the author:

Sharon Cook <craftercook@gmail.com>
Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
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