Revelation 21:6b – I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to
him who thirsts. (NKJV)
Isaiah 55:1 – Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no
money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without
price. (NKJV)
I have noticed that more and more people are carrying a water bottle with them
at all times, when they are walking or jogging, driving the car, in church, and
at sports events. We are often reminded that water is good for us, even when we
are not thirsty. Many of us now have the luxury of purchasing bottled water by
the case. We can also refill our bottles from the tap.
Fifty years ago, I lived in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, and quite often, I
would go into the city of Muscat for business. On my way back to the camp where
I lived, I would on occasion stop in the town of Mattrah to have a walk around
the market. There, I would see the water seller selling water to those who were
thirsty. He carried the water in a bag made from goatskin. He would walk among
the crowd and would loudly yell words like, "All you who thirst, come; I have
water." And indeed, many did come. He would dispense it into a small cup. They
would drink it right there on the spot, and return the cup to him. There were
times when I was tempted to accept a drink from him, but I never did.
Water is essential for life, and the land of Israel is very dry, so there are a
number of references in the Bible to water and the importance of it. Here is one
of the best known ones:
John 4:7,9-10 – A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give
Me a drink." Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a
Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with
Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and
who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He
would have given you living water." (NKJV)
Jesus also said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37b
NKJV)
A well-known song expresses it beautifully:
And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by my side I know you are thirsty, you
won't be denied I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried And I strove
to remind you, That for those tears I died." Marsha Stevens
As the water seller stood at the market place, and still does in many
middle-eastern countries, so God stands in the marketplace of our lives, telling
all who thirst to come to Him for living water. But so many walk by, just like I
did in Mattrah. So many thirst but do not accept the gift of the free water of
eternal life that God gives us through Jesus our Lord. Don't make the same
mistake!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that more people would hear and accept the
living water in Jesus that You so freely offer for all who are thirsty for
another way of life. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Joel Jongkind Meaford, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to PresbyCan Daily Devotional
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