W.A.T.E.R.
Willingly Accept Truly Eternal Rivers - Accept
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
John
7:37
Would you like to know one of my deep, dark secrets?
Keep reading and I’ll share it with you.
First, let’s look at some words in John 7:37. “Thirsty”
has several definitions that portray vivid pictures: cottonmouthed, craving,
crazy for, dehydrated, dry as dust, dying for, eager,
longing,
parched,
sapless. Sapless
really sticks out in my mind since this is what is killing thousands of pine
trees in my native state of Colorado. Sadly, pine bark beetles are sucking all the
sap, the pine trees’ lifeblood, out of them and leaving thousands of dead trees.
Do you ever feel sapless and lifeless? I do.
Figuratively, “drink” here means to receive
spiritually that which refreshes, strengthens, and nourishes the soul. To
“drink” is to derive spiritual life from Christ. Wow! Physically, when we’re parched
or dry as dust, we seek quenching as quickly as possible.
Why aren’t we so quick to seek and drink (accept)
the water Jesus offers us?
In the plainest of terms, the word “accept” means to
receive. In spiritual terms there is added significance added, as in: to
favorably receive or welcome an act or individual. Since God is all about relationship, these
meanings are critical. I like the idea of “welcoming” Jesus into my life so
that I will never have to thirst again.
What kinds of things prevent us from accepting living
waters from entering our hearts?
The opposite of accepting is rejecting. My secret is
that I’m afraid of people, so I reject them. As a child I vowed to steel my
heart and not let anyone hurt me, including God, so I rejected His love. Living
apart from the nourishing Vine was lifeless. It took lots of gentle pruning and
courage to risk coming to Jesus and drink deeply to stay connected with Him.
But, oh the reviving that takes place when I do!
Turning our backs on Jesus and going our own ways. How can we come to Him to “drink” when we’re
headed a different direction?
Unforgiveness hardens the heart and closes us off
destroying the desire to come to Jesus for restoration and refreshment.
Lord,
may I not allow anything to keep me from coming to You to receive Your living
water into my heart.
Karen Sims
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