Will You Give Me A Drink?

WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” – John 4:7

Water is something we take for granted, clean water that is. It is sold in bottles and buildings have clean water fountains and we never give a thought as to whether it is fit to drink or not.

Wars have been fought over water sources and many ancient cities were built over or around sources of clean water. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has more than seven hundred references to water. It has both physical and spiritual significance.

I went on a mission trip to a third world country for the purpose of bringing both the Gospel and water purification systems to those who lived in remote villages which lacked clean water. I saw high rates of disease and death because the people consumed polluted water from sewage filled streams and rivers.

We brought equipment that used chemicals and was powered by solar panels to purify water. Village officials came from far and wide to learn how to use the equipment. Then the officials took the equipment home; some by canoes, as that was the only way to get to their home village. Many lives were saved by the access to this modern technology.

However, we made sure that they took home another kind of living water… the water of the Gospel. Jesus said: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

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.”
John 4:13-14

As our friends returned to their villages, they were as excited about the “living” water they had received as they were about the ability to purify their physical water. They understood that one lasts for this life and the other for eternity.

***
SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
LIFE EXPLAINED:

On the first day, God created the dog and said, “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.” The dog said, “That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?” And God saw it was good.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said, “Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.” The monkey said, “Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?” And God, again saw it was good.

On the third day, God created the cow and said, “You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.” The cow said, “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?” And God agreed it was good.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said, “Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.” But the human said, “Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?” “Okay,” said God, “You asked for it.”

So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.

***
QUOTES YOU CAN USE
Get the Scripture and its principles ingrained into your children’s souls. Get them into the habit of being in church every Sunday with you; of praying daily and of saying grace at the table. That will solve 90% of the problems you have with your children. Billy Graham

He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers.

The best part of a new day is that it is a new day. Life begins again every day. How will you begin your new life today?

You can’t teach experience.

People are most critical of the things they least understand.

A high ego is like a weak battery…. It needs constant recharging.

For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. The Mayflower Compact

From Pastor Ken Whitten:
• Grace – Forgiveness For My Yesterday
• Peace – It’s Going To Be Ok Today
• Hope – Tomorrow is Going To Be Better

***
Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2015

1px

Contact

VIDEO CONFERENCING AVAILABLE FOR APPOINTMENTS

Location

Tampa Bay Christian Counseling Center

Availability

Primary

Monday:

9:00 am-9:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-9:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-9:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-3:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed