Where the River Goes... Life Flows

Devotion Outline Where the river goes…life grows.   The account of the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus at the well is an amazing story of transformation. I am so thankful that Jesus still transforms people today.   Yet, I am convinced there is a powerful encouragement in this account that ever believer needs to be reminded of today.  Too much is going on around us, for you to miss the whisper of Jesus to come drink.   Devotion Outline I am a Southern girl through and through.   One of the bonuses of living in the South is the abundance of streams and rivers   I deliberately  and unconsciously drink in the beauty that surrounds me. That's a bad thing and a good thing. It's a bad thing when I travel through the desert, because I strain my eyes looking for life.   But but even in  the desert,  every once in a while I spot something way off in the distance.   Why the sudden change in the landscape?   A river   I know it's there because I see signs of life.   It's a fact; where water goes, life grows.   Water is a change agent.   It is like a slow bulldozer cutting through the landscape.     Like a highway, John 4 takes us to a well, not a river, in Samaria.   Jacob's well was a very special well to the Samaritans   She is on a mission and so is Jesus. Her mission is to get water…His mission is to give water.   Jesus' request was simple, "Please give me a drink."   Her response was complicated by the racial prejudices of that day, "Why?"     John 4:10 NLT  Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."   No Bucket   Jacob's well. Do you think you are better than our ancestor Jacob?   Never be Thirsty again Artesian well   If you drink this water you're going to just get thirsty again. But anyone who drinks my water, will never be thirsty again. This water becomes a fresh, bubbling spring ( artesian well) inside them, giving them eternal life.         Jesus didn't tell the lady that she would never drink again, just that she would never be thirsty again.   If you are born again through faith in Jesus, the  artesian well is in you. So drink some living water.   How? Worship from your heart. Read the Bible. Come to God with your ears wide open and you will find life. (Isaiah 55:3)   Really important.   Jeremiah 2:13 King James Bible   For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.   How does a cistern compare to a well?   Don't just drink something…drink some living water.   John 14:6 King James Bible   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   He is the only way. If you've never received God's gift of salvation you can right now. ABC Steps to be born into God's family.   Ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins.   Believe on Jesus from your heart. Choose to believe that you need a Savior.   Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Tell someone what happened to you.