Living water

October 15, 2006

Drink Up!
READ: John 4:7-14

Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. —John 4:14

About this cover
In 1981, Ida's Pastry Shoppe in Jenison, Michigan, advertised this special offer: "Buy one of our coffee mugs for $4.79 and fill up your cup for a dime each time you visit."

But the owners never expected that 25 years later, four longtime customers would still be getting their cup of java every day—for 10 cents.

You won't find many deals like that anymore. But Jesus offered something far greater to the woman at the well (John 4:10). He said, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but . . . the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (vv.13-14).

The woman at the well was ready to listen. None of her many personal relationships had ever filled up her emptiness. Then Jesus offered her "water" that would soothe her parched life and give her something more—the promise of eternal life.

That same promise is ours as well. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

God's grace and love come from a bottomless reservoir. Drink from the water He offers, and you will never thirst again. —Cindy Hess Kasper

Gracious and Almighty Savior,
Source of all that shall endure,
Quench my thirst with living water,
Living water, clear and pure. —Vinal

Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul.

John 4:7-14 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10Jesus 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."

11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."