A Full Water Bottle!

A couple of years ago, Kim and I hiked through Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete. At about 11 miles long, it is said to be the longest gorge in Europe.  Much of it is very hot, dry, and very, very rocky. You can only imagine how important our water bottles were to us that day.  Thankfully, along the route there were spickets that ran with fresh spring water with which one could fill and refill their water bottle. After all, we were going through a lot of water in the 6-7 hours that it took to hike through that gorge (the hardest hike we have ever done!).

Yes...we needed lots of water on this hike

I have found that, one of the most important pieces of equipment when hiking is a full water bottle. The same is true for going to the gym. Without a bottle filled with water, there is no way in the world I’m going to make it through a spin class or some other type of workout.  And, such is the case when I travel—whether in the car or by plane—I always carry a full water bottle. After all, what good is an empty water bottle? It cannot help with one’s thirst. Thus, the importance of having a full water bottle!  

This past week, in our 40 Days with Jesus Bible reading plan, we read John 4 where Jesus meets a woman by a well in Samaria.  It’s an incredible conversation that begins with Jesus asking the woman, “Will you give me a drink?” and results in Jesus saying to her, “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.” (John 4:7, 13-14 – NIV) We might say, the woman’s physical water bottle was full, but her spiritual water bottle was empty! She needed the water that only Jesus could give to her—a spiritual water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever.

I’m sure you know what it feels like to be physically thirsty; I’m sure you’ve learned how to quench such a thirst. But how about the thirst that you have sensed deep in your spirit and soul? What about that thirst for something more than this life can offer you? Jesus still offers to us “living water.” As we put our faith in him and live our lives trusting him, he offers to fill the water bottles of our lives with the eternal blessings that come by means of his Spirit. He gives to us that which lasts not just for a moment, but for eternity. He even gives to us the gift of eternal life.  

You don’t need to go through life with a spiritually empty water bottle. Maybe it’s time to refill your bottle with the living water that comes through Jesus!

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris