The True Living Water

The true living water John 4

John 4:14 Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst, not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." [15] The woman said, "Sir, give me this water so I won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again!" [19] "Oh, so you're a prophet! [24] God is sheer being itself, Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." [28] The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, [29] "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" [30] And they went out to see for themselves. [31] In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, "Rabbi, eat. Aren't you going to eat?" [32] He told them, "I have food to eat you know nothing about." [34] Jesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. [35] As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. It's harvest time! [39] Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman's witness: "He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!" [40] They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. [41] A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. [42] They said to the woman, "We're no longer taking this on your say-so. We've heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He's the Savior of the world!"

1. A true believer has a real purpose for his life.

2 Tm. 3: 16-17. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

A SWEET AROMA by Tracie Miles "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22

A sweet thing happened recently. It was Sunday morning at church, and the congregation was standing, singing hymns. My precious little boy was beside me with his arms wrapped around my waist. Every few minutes, he pressed his face into my shirt. After several times, I finally determined he was sniffing me, so I leaned down and quietly asked why. He stood on his tip toes, put his face close to mine and whispered, "Because you smell like fruit, Mommy! It smells really good!" I smiled and knew what he smelled was one of my favorite perfumes which has a clean, sweet, fruity aroma.

God turned my thoughts to how we're to be a pleasing aroma to Him, through thoughts, actions and behaviors carried out in the Spirit. EPH 5:2 encourages us to "...live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God".

What does that really mean? How can we offer a fragrant offering that is pleasing to God and be a fragrance to those around us? There is a Hawaiian saying, "Tiny is the flower, yet it scents the grasses around it." What a great illustration of how the smallest things can have impactful results. The fact that the flower is small and seemingly insignificant, does not keep it from spreading the fragrance it was created to share. In fact, often the smallest flower can have the most potent fragrance! Sometimes we may feel like a tiny flower. We wonder if we are really capable of doing anything big or important for Christ. Insecurities, feelings of unworthiness or life challenges prevent us from seeing how God can use us to bless Him and impact others. It is not the size of the actions that matter, but the aroma that is created by those actions. Each time we do with the fruit of the Spirit we offer a fragrant offering to God. And we help others learn how to be a little fragrant flower too, in a big world that can be pretty stinky. Each one of us can choose what fragrance we give off. It might be a good idea to ask from time to time, What type of fragrance am I leaving behind? How am I affecting the world around me with the gifts God gave me? Am I giving off a spiritual aroma that is a fragrant offering to Christ? Our lasting fragrance should be one of love and kindness, not anger and harshness. Patience and faithfulness, not intolerance and selfishness. And lifting people's spirits with joy and peace, not leaving them discouraged and broken. Our fragrance should be sowing seeds that point to the goodness of Christ. When God created flowers, He intentionally created them to give off a sweet aroma. And He created us just the same. So, what fragrance are you wearing today?