Winter or summer, a cup of clear water stays within easy reach on my desk. It constantly reminds me of the Living Water dwelling within. Though others may prefer a cup of freshly brewed coffee or simmering tea, clear, clean water in my favorite glass cup is all I need.
During my life on the farm, our water supply came from a shallow well dug into an underground spring. The consistent quality satisfied the thirsts of four generations. During droughts when other wells went dry, people came from many miles around for the clear water from this little well and a similar one on my uncle’s property. Though the spring ebbed with the seasons, this well never ran dry.
Many times, I prayed over our well and thanked God for His abundant supply. Shortly after moving from the farm, the new owners tested the water again and deemed it inadequate. They dug a deeper well within the farmyard. Unfortunately, the alternate water source proved “hard” and loaded with excess minerals.
Jesus once met a woman beside a different country well and offered her living water.
“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
Living Water
The Samaritan woman in the story misunderstood Jesus. She struggled to understand the spiritual water Jesus offered to her. The “water” of His Holy Spirit revived not just bodies, but souls and spirits as well. Even without fully understanding, she welcomed his offer. She ran back to her village and shared the good news with everyone who would listen.
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.“
John 4:39-41
The interchange between this beautifully broken woman and Jesus is worthy of a full read in John 4. Jesus goes to the heart of her real thirst and her deepest need for Living Water — a thirst that only a personal relationship with Him would satisfy. Even though the scenario seemed intrusive and confusing, without hesitation she took Him up on His offer.
Clear Wells
Then and now, Jesus comes to supernaturally supply what we could never provide for ourselves — complete forgiveness and redemption. He becomes for us “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” How wonderful!
Our once polluted selves become clear wells through which He can flow, continually transforming us into His likeness. Rather than a destination, the Christian journey is a process of growth and change.
Everyone encounters Jesus differently. But most people have a tangible sense of their deep, spiritual thirst being quenched — unspoken longings satisfied and soul hungers filled.
The woman at the well experienced something more powerful than any intellectual conversation could give her. Through believing in Jesus, she received Living Water. Despite rejection and shame, she boldly shared this good news with everyone, welcoming them to the Source of true life.
“They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
John 4:42
Clear Water
Periodically, our farm well needed extra work to maintain a healthy flow of water. Sometimes sand clogged the cribbing around the well. It needed to be cleaned to restore the flow of water into the well. Even though the spring still surged around the well, the water could not enter the well and become accessible. At other times, the well house needed minor repairs to protect the well from the contaminating elements. During winter, the warmth of a lightbulb kept the system from freezing over.
In the same way, our spiritual wells also need maintenance. Intentional and unintentional debris may clog the Holy Spirit’s flow. If we desire to be used by God and fulfil His call on our lives, we must guard the Living Water flowing within. Though He promises to never leave us, we may not be able to freely receive from Him?
“Garbage in; garbage out!” wisdom says. This means that whatever we allow into our hearts and minds — good or bad — will eventually work its way out through our actions, attitudes, and speech.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 ESV
Honestly, we cannot afford to allow anything to pollute these internal wells which Jesus paid such a high price to clean. “With all vigilance,” the proverb says. How true! Disturbing messages and images bombard us from every side. To maintain the purity of the “water” flowing from our Source, He calls us to guard our hearts and minds.
A Guard
The more we value what Jesus Christ has done for us, the easier it becomes to guard this Living Water. Then, temptations become unattractive and trivial. Reading the Bible and praying takes precedent as a way to maintain our wells.
When we maintained the old well house and everything within, we gave little thought to the critters and dangers lurking outside. We knew that clear water flows from clear wells.
We don’t need to fear contamination of our wells and hide in our secluded homes. Like the Samaritan woman, we go into our communities to share Jesus through actions and words. There is no shortage! He fills us with the fullness of all we need.
To guard our hearts, we protect our eyes and ears from spiritual pollution — intentional and unintentional, active and passive. If we leave the door open to this valuable well house of our hearts, all kinds of vermin will come in, bringing disease and contaminating the once pure water. The consequence may prove higher than we wish to bear.
Let’s bravely ask Jesus how our wells are doing. Does His Living Water flow freely into and through us? In what way do we need to tend to our wells, purging ourselves from harassing thoughts, recurring patterns, or destructive actions? It doesn’t take long to make sure that clear water flows from clear wells.
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