Be a fountain, not a drain. Rex Hudler, former NBA player. On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7: 37-38 During my mother's recent hospital stay, there was a period of time when she was not allowed to eat or drink anything. Sure, they gave her those little sticks with sponges at the end to try to ease the discomfort, and of course they were giving her IV fluids to meet her bodies need for water, but the thirst she felt was painful to watch. It was especially painful to know I wasn't allowed to do anything about it. I've run into this problem a lot in the thousands of hospital rooms I've been in during my ministry. And as a society overall, we seem to be getting thirstier. After all, there are over 150 brands of bottled water world wide, and that doesn't take into account energy drinks, sports drinks, sodas, lemonades, juices and teas, much less alcoholic beverages. My yes, we thirst. Maybe we aren't thirsting for water. The deep thirst for liquids is typically confined to those hospital rooms or workout rooms, but there is a spiritual thirst I find almost everyplace I go. And unlike being thirsty for water, people don't always know what is wrong or what to do about it. Many folks already know the scriptures about Jesus being the living water that never runs dry. And we know that when our spirits thirst, it is time for some Jesus time. However, the last part of this scripture from John 7 often evades us. As we partake of the spiritual gift of Christ, we are then called to become living water to the world! Rex Hudler perfectly defines what are only two options really are when it comes to how we related to others. And believe me, the world does NOT need us to be a drain. Nor are we called to be. Being a fountain, however, doesn't come from our own sunny dispositions, our boundless energy, or our innate wisdom, it comes from having Christ at the very center of our hearts. We become simply a delivery system for the quenching of other's souls! Commit to being a fountain today and to continually refreshing your own spirits in the living waters of the living Christ. |
AuthorRev. Jana Quisenberry is the minister at Brightwood Christian Church. She's an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN, She now resides in Mt. Lebanon with her husband, two children, and dog, Sookie. Pastor Jana loves the church, science fiction, and coffee. Affiliate Links
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