Water Where We Need It

Hi, and thanks for joining us for this daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. I'm Bill Crowder, and I've entitled today's reading, Water Where We Need It. Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake, is vast and magnificent. Measuring one mile deep and nearly 400 miles, that's 636 kilometers, by 49 miles, that's 79 kilometers across, it contains one fifth of all the surface fresh water in the world. But this water is largely inaccessible. Lake Baikal is located in Siberia, one of the most remote areas of Russia. With water so desperately needed for much of our planet, it's ironic that such a vast supply of water is tucked away in a place where not many people can access it. Although Lake Baikal may be remote, there is an endless source of life-giving water that is available and accessible to those who need it most. When at a well in Samaria, Jesus engaged a woman in conversation, probing at the edges of her deep spiritual thirst.

The solution to her heart need? Jesus himself. In contrast to the water she had come to draw from the well, in John chapter 4, Jesus offered something better. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Many things promise satisfaction, but never fully quench our thirsty hearts. Jesus alone can truly satisfy our spiritual thirst, and his provision is available to everyone, everywhere. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from John chapter 4, verses 7-14. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, Will you give me a drink?

His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?

For the Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. Sir, the woman said, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock? Jesus answered, Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water, welling up to eternal life. Let's pray together. Loving God, thank you for the life that you provide and the purpose and the meaning you give to us as we walk with you. Thank you for the life-giving water you've provided for us in Jesus. Thank you for the eternal life that you've given us in him as well. Teach us to find our truest satisfaction in you and in your love. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.