Willingly Accept Truly Eternal Rivers
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living
water will flow from within them.
John 7:38
Years ago, at my workplace, we had plants
that I watered regularly. One of them was on a high shelf, so it wasn’t easy to
judge the amount of water I was pouring into it. The day came when a sudden gush of water
spilled over the edge landing directly on the fax machine below! Before I could divert the flow, it was
flooded. Watering a fax machine does not yield good results! A fax machine is
not designed to hold water.
The rivers of living water spoken of in
John 7:38 figuratively refer to the Holy Spirit who effectively operates in and
through each believer. Do you believe that we were created to be fit vessels
for living waters?
Be
filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). A call for continuous action on
our part.
What blocks the flow of living water?
Not being connected to the source. A water hose has
to be connected to a faucet. Am I guilty
of neglecting the one source that can fill me to overflowing with living waters
to be God’s love, compassion, and grace for others? Absolutely. How often I
find myself desperately going to others wanting them to fill my emptiness? I seek to be satisfied from those who are also
empty, demanding they give me even a little drop to quench my insatiable thirst.
Fear blocks the flow. I say I believe God, but do I really? Do my thoughts, words, and actions reflect my
trust or distrust? Guilty.
What about a hardened heart calloused by deceit? Or
unwillingness? Guilty.
Oh, how I long to be a fountain, receiving and then
pouring out for others’ refreshment! The
paradox is that it’s possible to be a life-giving vessel in spite of our flaws
and brokenness! Yield to the incomparable power of God. The power of the Holy
Spirit allowed to flow in our innermost beings is the same unlimited power that
resurrected Jesus’ dead body to new life!
And this resurrection power is available to all followers of Christ.
Willingly Accept
Truly Eternal
Rivers – the
choice is ours.
Heavenly
Father, I thank You for Jesus and His words of life for all who believe.
Karen Sims
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