Feb. 27, 2004

[Kidan]

Quote[/b] ]Where then do You get that living water?
—John 4:11

Quote[/b] ]"The well is deep"—and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! ( John 4:11 ). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the "wells" in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose that you have a deep "well" of hurt and trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." ( John 14:1 ). Would your response be to shrug your shoulders and say, "But, Lord, the well is too deep, and even You can’t draw up quietness and comfort out of it." Actually, that is correct. Jesus doesn’t bring anything up from the wells of human nature—He brings them down from above. We limit the Holy One of Israel by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past, and also by saying, "Of course, I cannot expect God to do this particular thing." The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty. The impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.

The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying, "Of course, He can’t do anything about this." We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves. Beware of sitting back, and saying, "It can’t be done." You will know it can be done if you will look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.

 

[Kidan]

Full verse:

Quote[/b] ]She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?

"Where then do You get that living water?"  What a question.  The answer of course is from the Father.  Yet logically knowing, intellectually knowing the answer is far from believing the answer.

We, especially those of us who live in America, have a hard time stepping out in faith.   The American ideal of self-sufficiency is just so ingrained into our culture.  The American ideal of the independent is ingrained into our culture.  Think about some of the greatest fictional heros we have "The Lone Ranger", Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Zorro.  For the most part these characters stand alone (sure they might have a sidekick) fighting against all types of evil.  They're independent, self-sufficient and kind to kittens.

But we're not.  No matter how self-sufficient we may think we are, we still owe all that we are to Christ.  No matter how independent we may think we are we are still SUPPOSED to rely on Christ.

People often describe Christianity as being faith-based.  In today's society, there's often times when people will sneer at the concept of Christianity requiring Works for salvation.  

While we are saved by faith, one must remember that the entire concept of being a Christian is a Work.  We are to emulate Christ.  That's what Christian means.  As such, we are to rely on the Father.  As such, we are to trust God.  As such we are to try to uphold the law.  This is where the living water comes from.  This is how we draw it.  Imagine if you will, that God is a well of this living water.  Our trust and faith in Him, is the bucket and rope used for drawing.  Let's face it though, if we're not drawing water, why are we at the well?  If we're not using the well for what it's for (retrieving water) then all it is, is a wishing well.


Are you drawing water today?  Or are you just standing at the well, throwing pennies in?