“The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw,” John 14:15.
The Samaritan woman had the same practical bent as Martha. Even today the women of Africa carry great clay water pots atop their heads. The Samari- tan thought of the vast material benefit for her if only she didn’t need to come twice a day to that well. Martha, like her, saw the importance of practical things, such as getting food ready. And, as in the case of Martha, Jesus succeeded in making the woman understand about spiritual values.
Several years ago, a farmer in Tasmania, the island state to the south of the Australian continent, noted water trickling out of a rock face in a remote part of his property. He tried some of the water and found that it fizzed on his tongue.
A few years and countless tests later, one of the great international soft drink companies bought the rights to the spring. Now that naturally sparkling mineral water quenches thirsts in many countries. Similarly, the famous springs of Perri- er in France offer refreshment just about everywhere. How much one overflow- ing hole in the rock can mean!
Jesus applied this idea to the spiritual world. The Samaritan woman had the potential of being a powerful witness in her city. He spoke patiently with her as He explained that the water of life now bubbled out of her very presence. Look at Me, Jesus said, I am the Water of Life. He had judged her rightly. Within the hour a great crowd came out of the city to hear Jesus.
As we endeavor to forge ahead through this North American Division Year of Evangelism, and through this, the Southern Union Year of Multiplying through Reconnection, we need to contemplate extraordinary possibilities. Who knows what springs of hope lie dormant within you, awaiting the infilling of the Spirit to burst forth in the world? Who would have judged the great evangelists Edward Earl Cleveland and Mark Finley of producing such a blessing? Who, looking at the frail and wasted Ellen Harmon, would have thought her capable of inspiring a world movement?
As we search for people who have been circumstantially disconnected from the Church, it is important to remember that a person brought up as a Sev- enth-day Adventist never forgets his faith completely. Even though he may not be living it, there is almost always a deep-seated respect for truth, and he will even defend its merits in an argument.
Always remember that young people are not hard to win back. Don’t argue with them; don’t scold them; don’t even admonish them. Just let them know you have confidence in them and hope that someday they will return. Urge them not to wait too long. Don’t nag them. Assure them that you will not interfere with their present way of life, but that if your help is ever needed and wanted, you’ll be glad to help. Such assurance wins a young person back much sooner.
Overflowing to bless a community, a family, a nation, may be God’s plan for you. Don’t think it impossible. Listen to Jesus speak to you about what He sees in every one of us: “The water I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life,” John 4:14.
Let’s drink the Living Water so that we can be a bubbling fountain of life to this post-Christian and post-modern culture. –RCS
Southern Union | February 2022
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