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Key Verse:
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’” — John 4:13-14, New Living Translation
Today’s Reading: John 4
Listen to today's reading on her.BIBLE®
Patched lips, dried mouth, feelings of weakness, headaches. These are some of the symptoms you can experience if you go without water for several hours. Have you ever felt really thirsty?
Everyone experiences a natural thirst and drinks water to satisfy this thirst. Water is an essential part of life on earth and necessary for existence. But what about spiritual thirst — the deepest longings of your soul? Many people today are restless, dissatisfied and empty on the inside. They try to satisfy their inner thirst with many things. Maybe you can relate. Could this type of thirst ever be satisfied?
In John 4, on His way to Galilee, Jesus passed through Samaria. He became weary and sat next to a well in the heat of the day. There, a Samaritan woman approached the well, and Jesus asked her for a drink of water. This was unusual because of the tradition at the time, as Jews did not associate with Samaritans. But here Jesus, a Jewish man, was asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water — a drink from the same cup from which she drank. The woman lived a questionable lifestyle and was despised and rejected because of it. She lived in shame. But this did not hinder Jesus from intentionally reaching out to her.
Instead, He broke down the social barrier. He displayed His love and grace and began a conversation that helped her to discover her spiritual needs and longings. He offered her “ living water” that would become like a spring of water in her “welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14, New International Version). She could drink from this water and never be thirsty again.
Living water here represents the source of spiritual sustenance, true satisfaction and eternal life. It sustains and nourishes our spirit and is only offered by Jesus.
The Samaritan woman’s interaction with Jesus led to her personal transformation as well as the transformation of others in her village.
The amazing news is that you don’t need to search any longer for something that can only temporarily satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. Your thirst for true significance, love, value, acceptance and meaning can all be quenched by drinking the “living water” Jesus offers. Are you thirsty? Drink from the living water, and you will never be thirsty again.
Reflect:
What are some of the deepest longings in your soul? What ways have you tried to meet these longings?
Where can you invite Jesus to meet these longings?
Pray:
Lord, I confess that I have not been coming to You to satisfy my deepest longings. I have been depending on other things to fill me. I come to You alone to satisfy my dry and thirsty soul with Your living water.
You can help relieve the physical and spiritual thirst of people in the toughest places by partnering with Unto®, the humanitarian ministry of Cru, to provide lifesaving humanitarian aid where it is most urgently needed.
Stacy Thomas serves with Cru’s campus ministry in Trinidad and Tobago. She loves to help young people to know Jesus and discover their calling. She enjoys spending time with family and sightseeing in different countries.
Get some ideas to turn holiday conversations — from Christmas to New Year's Day — toward Jesus.
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