Thinking about two stories at the same time and how they fit together into my own existence tonight.
First we have Jesus asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Her surprise that He would be asking one He should despise, let alone why He would even speak to her, sets a stage that demonstrates God's willingness to cross even the most segregated boundaries we create. His response to her shock overrides the certainty of what I can think I know. He says "If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water."
And of course her her first thoughts are to prove how irrational and completely illogical what He said was. The story continues, but even through her arguments, He offers truth. Truth of who He is and who she has been, until she can no longer dispute this and begins to believe. As her belief grows so does her excitement and desire for this water.
So my thoughts take this water and go back to the place of turning water into wine, to the excitement of a party that didn't have to end before it was over. And I wonder why in myself, if I have been given this living water, where the excitement and desire got left? The party is still going on yet have I just fallen asleep?
Likely just distracted.
So I challenge my focus. I am completely capable of turning water to wine, primarily it looks like changing this amazing living water into whine (and complain). Tonight my prayer is to find the places in me that find the joy of living water. To remember the awe at God's extravagance and counter my arguments and impossibilities of the demand of logical and rational - counter this by truth and more truth.
To not let the whine of my thoughts become water to drown in, but to allow the living water turned to wine to intoxicate my heart with nothing less than what He wants to give.
First we have Jesus asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Her surprise that He would be asking one He should despise, let alone why He would even speak to her, sets a stage that demonstrates God's willingness to cross even the most segregated boundaries we create. His response to her shock overrides the certainty of what I can think I know. He says "If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water."
And of course her her first thoughts are to prove how irrational and completely illogical what He said was. The story continues, but even through her arguments, He offers truth. Truth of who He is and who she has been, until she can no longer dispute this and begins to believe. As her belief grows so does her excitement and desire for this water.
So my thoughts take this water and go back to the place of turning water into wine, to the excitement of a party that didn't have to end before it was over. And I wonder why in myself, if I have been given this living water, where the excitement and desire got left? The party is still going on yet have I just fallen asleep?
Likely just distracted.
So I challenge my focus. I am completely capable of turning water to wine, primarily it looks like changing this amazing living water into whine (and complain). Tonight my prayer is to find the places in me that find the joy of living water. To remember the awe at God's extravagance and counter my arguments and impossibilities of the demand of logical and rational - counter this by truth and more truth.
To not let the whine of my thoughts become water to drown in, but to allow the living water turned to wine to intoxicate my heart with nothing less than what He wants to give.