Water

I've found myself thinking a lot about water since I've been down here.  For one thing, getting a drink of water is not as simple as turning on the facuet and filling up the cup.  The water isn't safe to drink, so gulping down a large glass of water would make you incredibly sick.  Even in the shower I'm careful not to get water in my mouth, and I brush my teeth with water from one of the large jugs that we purchase. 

If I valued my reuseable water bottle in the States, I value it even more here because I know that the water in it is safe and will keep me hydrated and healthy during the hot days on campus. As a result, I rarely leave home without it, and often check to make sure I haven't left it somewhere.

As I make every effort to avoid water that will mak me sick, I can't help but think about what the results would be if we were this careful to avoid sin in our lives.  Think about that- as sick as the water would make me, how much sicker does unconfessed sin make us spirtually?  We often treat sin like it is the safe water from the States.  Not only do we not pay much attention to it, but sometimes we straight out guzzle it because we don't want to face the reality of how toxic it is.  But what if, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we were to adopt an attitude of fleeing from sin at all cost.  How would our lives, families, and relationships with others look different?

And what about that water bottle?  Could I buy water from other places each day?  I could, but it would be much more expensive, and I would run the risk of not being able to have water when I needed it.  Similarily, I think we often forget about the life giving power of God's word.  We spend millions (maybe even billions) of money each year on Christian books, CD's, and movies in hopes that they will bring us closer to God.  But what if we started treating the Bible like I've started looking at my reuseable water bottle- as the single most effective way to get what I need for the day, as essential, and as something we don't want to be without?  How would our days and walks look different if we placed a premium on spending quality time in the Word?  If we saw it as valuable enough to memorize it so we would always have it with us whenever we needed a drink?

Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty forever.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."   - John 4:13

Will you join me in drinking from the source of living water?
Sarah