Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Drinking from The Well

The Word:

Read: John 4:1-14 
Additional Reading:John 7:37-39, Philippians 4:13 Revelation 21:6-7, Revelation 22:17

“Drinking from The Well” By Randolph Koch
In today’s culture and climate, some would say that relying on someone else or dependence on anyone or anything is a crutch or a weakness. Whether you may agree or disagree with this statement I’d submit that it all depends on what or who you’re dependent on. As a Christian, dependence on God is not a crutch or weakness; rather, it’s that which makes us stronger as Christ is our strength and He continually strengthens us each day as we draw near to Him.

So many times in life we try to go through circumstances or deal with things all alone, or in our own strength. Society would teach that you’re only to rely on yourself and no one else. Some Christians may buy into that faulty thinking, however, we cannot nor are we designed to be totally alone. When will we learn this and stop fumbling through life and its many trials all-alone when God is always right there to strengthen and sustain us!? In addition, He's also placed the Body of Christ around us to support, build up, and care for us in every circumstance. The Body is also designed to be there for each other through, “the thick and the thin”, as the old saying goes. Most of all, God is always there.

At one point in my life I recall a specific day when things seemed as though everything was about to unravel. I was stressed and depressed and trying to do it all on my own. At that moment, I was prompted to get up from my desk at work and go for a quick "prayer walk" which I’m in the habit of doing. As I walked I began to pray, seeking God about all that I was going through. Then I paused for a moment and I remember to this day, His clear answer and response to my prayers.

"How much are you drinking from My well?" In other words, “How much are you drawing from my strength”? “Or are you just drawing from your own strength”?

I knew immediately why my life seemed so chaotic that week. I had hardly spent any time with Him. I wasn't in His Word seeking His direction and even my prayers weren't all together balanced. It was if I was only seeking what He could do for me rather than just seeking Him, sitting at His feet, learning, and listening to and for His guidance and strength.

His well represents salvation to those who haven't come to know Him yet and for the believer it represents life and constant strength in and through Him. Whichever place you are in today, you will never thirst again once you drink from His well, His Living water.

With this in mind, remember dear one that in the days when you feel down, depressed, or like your life is unraveling, these are the times when you need to all the more, pause and drink from His well, draw from His strength that He so freely gives as you seek Him. Of course, in the good and the bad days we need to seek Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sometimes it would seem that it's in the times of trial, or hot water if you will, that we remember to seek Him. We need to remember to seek Him and draw from His well daily no matter the circumstance. It doesn't mean life will always be what we deem as “great”, but it does mean you will be drawing from Him, which is what you’re supposed to do.

He is all-powerful and His strength is limitless! On the other hand, If you try to do it all on your own, you’ll come up empty every time because, to be very honest, your own strength is very limited. Let us stop trying to go it alone, instead, let us seek Him more and know Him more.
At the beginning and the end of each day, may He find us drinking from The Well, His Well, His Living Water.

Questions to Get Started With:

-Have you read the main passage and additional passages yet?-Have you received Salvation/Drank from His well for the first time?
-If so, do you rejoice because of this?
-Do you realize that you have eternal life and nothing can ever separate from Him now that you’ve received salvation?
-As a Christian, do you draw deeply from His Well?
-Do you realize that you’ll never go thirsty again once you have drawn from His well?
-What do the passages of scripture teach you about Living Water, Eternal Life, Strength, etc.?
-Do you tend to rely solely on yourself, your own strength?
-If so, what changes will you start to implement immediately so you don’t keep doing so?-How might you help others draw more from His limitless well, rather than their own limited self?


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