ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED PSALMS TO DESCRIBE THE DEEP DESIRE FOR A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS PSALM 42:1-2, “AS THE DEER LONGS FOR STREAMS OF WATER, SO I LONG FOR YOU, O GOD. I THIRST FOR GOD, THE LIVING GOD. WHEN CAN I GO AND STAND BEFORE HIM?”
THIRSTING FOR GOD! YEARNING AND WANTING TO BE IN A REDEEMED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND TO, ONE DAY, LIVE ETERNALLY IN HIS PRESENCE IS TO BE OUR QUEST.
THIRSTING FOR GOD IS DEVELOPED BY SPENDING TIME IN DAILY PRAYER, READING SCRIPTURE, LISTENING TO HIM, AND WORSHIPPING TO DEEPEN THIS INTIMATE, LIFE-TRANSFORMING CONNECTION.
JOHN 15:4-5, “REMAIN IN ME, AS I ALSO REMAIN IN YOU. NO BRANCH CAN BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF; IT MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE. NEITHER CAN YOU BEAR FRUIT UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME. “I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND I IN YOU, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.”
GOD HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO SALVATION THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. GOD INITIATED THE TERMS OF RECONCILIATION AND PAID FOR EVERYTHING THROUGH THE ATONING BLOOD SACRIFICE OF HIS SON JESUS UPON THE CROSS. HE MAKES A WAY FOR ALL. HE DOES NOT WISH ANYONE TO REJECT SUCH A LOVING INVITATION.
EZEKIAL 18:23, ““DO YOU THINK THAT I LIKE TO SEE WICKED PEOPLE DIE? SAYS THE SOVEREIGN LORD. OF COURSE NOT! I WANT THEM TO TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS AND LIVE.” 2 PETER 3:9, “THE LORD IS NOT SLOW IN KEEPING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME UNDERSTAND SLOWNESS. INSTEAD HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH, BUT EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE.”
I LIKE WHAT THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH SAYS ABOUT “AWAKENING TO GOD” (P3103): “GOD TAKES THE INITIATIVE IN MAKING SINNERS AWARE OF THEIR NEEDS, USING HIS WORD, THE REVELATION IN JESUS CHRIST, THE GOSPEL PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH, THE WITNESS OF INDIVIDUALS, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE. BY SUCH MEANS, THE HOLY SPIRIT AWAKENS SINNERS TO THEIR NEEDS AND TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. AWAKENED, THEY MUST MAKE A RESPONSE, EITHER REJECTING THE CALL OF GOD OR TURNING TO GOD IN REPENTANCE AND FAITH.”
THE MEETING BETWEEN JESUS AND THE “WOMAN AT THE WELL” IS ONE SUCH ENCOUNTER TO SHOW US THE LENGTHS GOD WILL GO TO IN ORDER TO REACH SOMEONE WITH HIS REDEEMING LOVE. NO ONE IS EVER WRITTEN OFF HOPELESS. THE VALUE GOD SEES IN EVERYONE HE HAS CREATED IS THE LOVE THAT FUELS HIS PURSUIT OF US.
JESUS ENGAGES THE SAMARITAN WOMAN WITH ONE PROFOUND REQUEST IN SUCH A PURSUIT: “WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?” THIS DIRECT QUESTION DEMONSTRATES HIS ACCEPTANCE OF HER AND ALL PEOPLE, NO MATTER THEIR PAST OR CURRENT CONDITION.
JESUS DEFIED ALL CULTURAL NORMS OF RACE, GENDER, AND STATUS TO SHOW THAT THE GOSPEL TRANSCENDS ALL PREJUDICE AND ALL SINFUL HUMAN-MADE BOUNDARIES.
DESPITE HER SCANDALOUS PAST, JESUS TREATS THE WOMAN WITH DIGNITY AND SPEAKS LIFE AND VALUE INTO HER HEART AND SOUL TO OFFER HER GRACE AND HOPE.
THE ENCOUNTER HIGHLIGHTS THAT JESUS SEEKS OUT THE MARGINALIZED, OUTCASTS, AND ANY WHO SOCIETY DEEM TO BE NO LONGER WORTH THE EFFORT. JESUS SUPERCEDES ALL LEVELS OF SCRUTINY AND PREJUDICE TO GIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY THE GIFT OF HIS LIFE GIVING WATER.
JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR: SALVATION IS FOR EVERYONE. NO ONE IS EXCLUDED OR AN EXCEPTION. JESUS IS WILLING TO BREAK DOWN ANY AND ALL SOCIAL, GENDER, RELIGIOUS, LEGAL AND ILLEGAL BARRIERS TO BRING A PRODIGAL CHILD HOME TO THE FATHER.
JESUS IS THE LIVING WATER THAT REFRESHES THE SOUL PARCHED IN THE DESERT OF SINFULNESS. HE MADE THE SACRIFICE. HE PAID THE PRICE. HE CONQUERED SIN, DEATH, AND THE GRAVE TO MAKE IT A REALITY FOR YOU TO BE RECONCILED BACK TO GOD.
JESUS DOESN’T CHARGE OR ASK ANY FAVORS IN ORDER TO GRANT US SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY. IT IS FREE. IT IS A GIFT! THE WORD USED FOR “GIFT” IN VERSE 10 NOT ONLY INDICATES THE GIFT IS FREE, BUT THAT IT COMES WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
THE PROPHET ISAIAH FORETOLD THIS PRICELESS BLESSING OF THE LORD AS “LIFE GIVING” WATER! ISAIAH 12:2-3, “SEE, GOD HAS COME TO SAVE ME. I WILL TRUST IN HIM AND NOT BE AFRAID. THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG; HE HAS GIVEN ME VICTORY. WITH JOY YOU WILL DRINK DEEPLY FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF SALVATION!”
IT IS SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST THAT RECONCILES US BACK WITH GOD THE FATHER AND GIFTS US WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY TRINITY UPON US IS SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT THAT COMPLETELY SATISFIES THE SOUL’S THIRST. IT IS LASTING INNER RENEWAL AND TRANSFORMATION THAT MAKES US MORE LIKE JESUS AND GLORIFYING TO GOD AS WE PREPARE OURSELVES AND OTHERS FOR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN.
LET US HEAR THE INVITATION ONCE MORE: JOHN 7:37-38, “ON THE LAST AND GREATEST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL, JESUS STOOD AND SAID IN A LOUD VOICE, ‘LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME TO ME AND DRINK. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, AS SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, RIVERS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN THEM.’”
THE QUESTION, THEN, REMAINS: DO YOU THIRST FOR GOD AND HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE? HAVE YOU ASKED JESUS FOR HIS GIFT OF LIVING WATER? DO YOU WANT TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? DO YOU LONG FOR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN TO BE WITH JESUS FOREVER? THEN, TODAY, ASK JESUS “GIVE ME A DRINK! GIVE ME YOUR WATER, SO THAT I MAY NEVER BE THIRSTY.” HE WILL GLADLY ANSWER. AMEN.
