Receive His Perfect Gift
6-14-04

In the last two messages we've been challenged to share the wonders of God as well as the uncompromising truth of His Word - those around us are in great need! But as we "Never Let Them Forget" and "Contend For The Faith" - as we share and give to others - let's remember to take the time and effort to fully receive all our Father has to offer.

When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she thought the request was quite odd since Jesus was clearly of Jewish descent and Jews did not associate with Samaritans; "How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9). Rather than explain the new rules for social interaction, Jesus took the opportunity to introduce the woman to the gift of God.

John 4:10
"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.'"

If we only knew! I often imagine a loving Father who has given the greatest gift the world has ever known. We approach and examine the gift; we ask questions and maybe even shake the gift and put it on our shelf, but we never open the gift and receive what's inside; "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:7). His gifts are perfect; and if we only knew, we would open and receive them with abounding joy!

His gift of living water is still available today. This gift refers to our Salvation in the transformation of our heart, but it also refers to His on-going gift of a victorious life of peace and contentment; "Everyone who drinks this water {from the well} will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst" (John 4:13-14). His gift of Salvation is free through faith in Jesus Christ and peace is assured through a humble submission to His will, but we continually rebel and pump from the wells of this world - we drink lies and always thirst for more.

Approximately 650 years earlier, God gave the same message to the people of Jerusalem: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13). We sit beside a spring overflowing with the best tasting water imaginable, but we turn away and pump sludge into our broken pots.

God has great plans for each of us - and His plans are much bigger and brighter than anything we can accomplish through our own effort. Let's rediscover the gift of living water and put an end to our thirst! Let's return to the spring and continue our journey in obedience. Let's drink freely and daily receive His perfect gift.

Have A Great Day!