SCRIPTURE: John 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [John 4:13-14]
Living water, a spring of water, never thirsty again?
Jesus seems to be talking figuratively here, since bodily thirst is a natural, created function.
In this chapter Jesus highlights the deeper thirst (or need) that needs to be satisfied.
We see it in the woman, whose live revealed a trail of broken relationships [John 4:17-18]; we see it in the relationship between Jews and Samaritans, who treated each other with disrespect and cruelty [John 4:9]; we see it in the royal official, who seemed more interested in the miracle than in Jesus [John 4:48].
Jesus also demonstrates how this need is satisfied in our relationship with God – saying that fulfilling God’s work is more satisfying than food itself [John 4:32-34].

Is it possible to be so satisfied, so content, so filled on this inside that external needs pale in comparison?
Is it possible to have such spiritual satisfaction in the soul that our physical joys or sorrows seem insignificant?
Jesus seems to have found this kind of inner well of peace, joy, contentment.
The missionary Paul also speaks about it: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. [Philippians 4:11-13]
How does a person discover this kind of spiritual contentment and fullness?
The key is the Holy Spirit – God’s life, power and presence in us.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. [John 7:37-39]

The reason there is so much misery and mess in the world is because we have lost our connection to God.
The void within drives us crazy, and we latch on to anything (but God) to fill that void: our broken relationships, our conflicts with others, our clinging to physical blessings, these are all symptoms of the inner void.
If we have inward strength and wisdom and focus, we would not be messed up by the follies of this world, and we would not be so miserable and empty.
God in us – through Jesus, by the Spirit, is the key to a never-failing, always sufficient flow of love and joy and peace and patience and kindness, etc.

We need to drink from this fountain; by relating personally with the Lord, by focusing our hearts on Him and the things that He delights in, we keep the channel open for the living water to flow.
Those who seek Him, long for Him, rely on Him, find Him satisfying, and all other needs and concerns seem to pale in comparison.
This is not just a trick of the mind, it is not just the power of positive thinking; the Spirit is a very real spiritual energy resource that can energize, strengthen and satisfy the inner person.
It does flow, it does well up, it does satisfy – I’ve experience it.
It’s what I desire more than anything else!

One more thing, it is not found through religion, it is found through personal, sincere relationship with God.
Through sincerity and honesty (spirit and truth) our hearts reach out to God anywhere and everywhere.
This is what God desires, and this is how God can satisfy us on the inside.

PRAYER:
Lord, just writing about this living water makes me thirsty. I think of those times where I felt the bubbling stream within me, and I want to experience it again. Spirit of Jesus, flow within me again!