Living water

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." – JOHN 7:37

Lee Atwater was a well-known figure in US politics. He engineered the successful 1988 presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush and was the head of the Republican National Committee (1988-1991). But in the midst of all his activities he developed an inoperable brain tumor and died at the age of 40.

During his illness, Atwater came to realize that wealth, honor, and power are not life’s supreme values. Admitting to a deep emptiness within himself, he urged people to work at filling up the "spiritual vacuum in American society". In an insightful comment, he confessed, "My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what is missing in me – a little heart, a lot of brotherhood."

In his day, Jeremiah perceived that same kind of vacuum in many of his fellow Israelites. He warned them against the danger of personal and national emptiness. They were digging cisterns, he said, "broken cisterns that can hold no water" (JEREMIAH 2:13).

What about your own life? Is it spiritually dried up? Ask Jesus, the fountain of living water (JOHN 7:37), to fill you with His presence. Then joy and peace will begin to bubble up and even overflow.

– VERNON C. GROUNDS

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Behold, I freely give the living water,

Thirsty one, stoop down

And drink and live." – BONAR

READ: JEREMIAH 2:4-13

The only real thirst quencher is Jesus – the living water.