Living Water
You are alive in us
Nothing can take Your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free
I’ve been listening to the Hillsong Young & Free album for months now. I love the mix of current sound with inspiring worship. Sounds cheesy, but it’s really true.
The above lines are the chorus from the song Alive. I want myself, my family, my kids, my church to embody those words. I want to be (or at least feel) young, alive and free!
But how? How do we live a life of youth…alive and free?
Over the last few weeks, for one reason or another, I’ve stumbled onto the passage about the Samaritan woman at the well from the book of John. I love the interaction. Jesus is so direct with the woman. He introduces himself as Messiah (which he never directly does to the Jews). He offers her life.
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” -John 4:10
Jesus offers a blue print for spiritual life and freedom. How do live alive and free? We connect to the one who offers living water – Jesus!
Where is your well?
However, let’s be real. If we, ourselves, aren’t finding life in Jesus, how can anyone around us? Our tribe (kids, family, friends, etc) want to be like us. They observe us, mimic our words and imitate our actions.
Where are you looking for life?
“For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all! -Jeremiah 2:13
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah chides the people of Israel for attempting to find true, meaningful life outside of God’s reach. It’s clear to him true and everlasting life comes from only one place – God. However, Jeremiah watches as his fellow countrymen search everywhere but God.
We do the same thing. We may be a follower of Jesus, but we continue to look for life and freedom everywhere but Him. We look in relationships, jobs, alcohol, sex, education and even through the lives our kids.
It’s the wrong well. Living water isn’t in these places. They eventually will end up dry and cracked.
For us to lead anyone to free, meaningful life, we must find life in Him first.
I encourage you to take a few moments to search your heart. Where are you attempting to find life and freedom? Any place besides the person of Jesus will end up short. Your well will run dry.
If you are looking somewhere else, renounce those things! Ask for forgiveness, and turn toward Jesus.
Then lead your tribe to that same well.
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