Thirsty?
In the fourth chapter of John we find an account of Jesus and his disciples in Samaria. He sends his disciples for food while he stays at the well. After a while a woman comes to get water. Jesus asks for a drink, but we find that the woman is really the thirsty one. She is thirsty for something besides water. She has tried to fill that thirst with relationships but that has not worked. She has had five husbands and is now living with another man. These relationships with which she tried to quench her thirst cost her something. It cost her reputation. That is why she was at the well in the middle of the day. She was not accepted by the other women or else she would have been there in the morning when the other women were there. She may have also sampled the religion there. She mentions where the forefathers said they were to worship. She knew that the Messiah was to come.
Everyone is created with a thirst for God. Most don't know what they are thirsty for so go around trying this and that. Some today try quenching that thirst with relationships. They might be fulfilled with a mate for a while but then he or she doesn't satisfy. These relationships may cost you your reputation or may cost you your health.
There are other ways people try to sate their thirst. Some amass wealth. Some work their way up the career ladder to fame. Many try doing it with religion. All of these things cost the person that does them. In the case of those working for fame or fortune it may cost them their health or family. In the case of those trying to quench their thirst with religion, it cost them trying to work their way into heaven. They don't know if they will get to heaven so they keep themselves busy doing good deeds thinking they will end up there because of those good deeds.
Salvation is a free gift from God. Jesus Christ gave his life for our salvation. He is the one we need to quench our thirst. He is the only one that can quench it.
"The LORD says, 'Come, everyone who is thirsty-here is water! Come, you that have no money-buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk-it will cost you nothing! Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all. "Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life!'" (Isaiah 55:1-3A
GDNT) [1]
Turn from your sins and come to Jesus Christ. Drink of the living water which he gives. You never have to be thirsty again.
By Dean W. Masters
Unedited redistribution approved