Key Scripture: John 4:10-11 & John 7:37-38

John 4:10-11 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Relevance

Growing up in arid Australia, most people are familiar with plants, flowers, trees, agriculture, and vineyards, and the fact that they all need water or they will perish. Many require a lot of water. Even when some things look dead, they come back to life with water.

Human beings also require a significant amount of water, as our bodies are composed of approximately 70-80% water. The water enters and feeds what it needs. Then, out of the 'belly' or well of the plant or human comes the produce—the giving. Together we provide food, beauty, labour and creativity. Between us, we display some of the majesties of God. 

When Jesus Christ came, He brought additional but very different water for humans. To those who partake in His living water, receive the same, and out of their 'bellies' shall flow rivers (numerous) of living water. Strange stuff? 

Belly in Strong's concordance G2836 - koilia. One of the meanings is 'womb'. Nothing displays new life like a brand-new baby. We nurture a new child. We love and care for it with purpose. We should do the same with those rivers of living water flowing out of us.

What are they for? Christ gives life, and we help sustain it. What this means is that the works we do and the words we speak give life. In river waters, sometimes poison flows—the same with salt water. However, nothing dies if the living water flowing from us remains pure.

That flow of living water comes directly from the Holy Spirit and must not be polluted by human-based thinking or actions. As we grow deeper in our love for Jesus, that part of our humanity should be dying off. If we let it, the living water kills off the useless parts of our humanity—ego, sin and faults, as our direction is always Jesus-focussed toward others.

Next time you are speaking with someone—anyone, think life and let the waters flow! As Jesus did, so must we. 

Prayer

Wonderful Father, thank you for the rivers of living water that you promised will flow from us. I praise you that the waters cleanse and grow our own spiritual lives, while also providing sustenance for those around us through our words, actions and prayers. Please help us to recognise this principle as we navigate life with others.

Photo by Dan Roizer