Psalm 65:9-10 - You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
God visits the earth and waters it, as we might water gardens or irrigate thirsty farmland. The gifts of water and rain are reminders of our Creator's continuing care for the world and the people He made. God did not create the world, set everything in motion, and then abandon His creation to run on its own. He is still very "hands on" with the world He made. God sends rain to the earth, providing for the growth of grain and other crops. He waters the furrows of farmland and softens the soil with showers. His care for creation is a witness to His goodness, "giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17b).
To dry and thirsty land, God sends the gift of water. To the arid, sinful landscape of our lives, God sent an even more precious gift. He promised to visit the earth Himself and water it with His Spirit, as the prophet foretold: "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants" (Isaiah 44:3).
Jesus, God the Son, walked across an earthly landscape, bringing the refreshment of forgiveness, healing and the Good News of the kingdom of God. To a woman drawing water from a well, Jesus offered living water: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). During a festival remembering Israel's journey through the desert, Jesus called out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37b-38). That river of living water welling up to eternal life is the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in our hearts, calling us to believe in the Savior who died and rose from the dead to refresh us with forgiveness and eternal life.
In repentant humility, we confess our vain attempts to satisfy our thirst with earthly things. We confess the dusty dryness of our sinful lives and receive the welcome refreshment of forgiveness purchased by Jesus' blood. In joyful hope we look forward to eternal life in Jesus' presence, where we will never again know hunger or thirst. Our Savior and Shepherd will guide us to eternal springs of living water and wipe away every tear from our eyes.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, in You alone I have the refreshment of forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been in a desert? If so, did it change the way you look at water?
2. Watering a parched landscape can produce dramatic results. What kind of changes occur when God pours His Spirit into our lives?
3. What does it mean when Jesus says that to drink the water He gives will satisfy our thirst forever?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Kings 10-12 James 4
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