Thursday, September 8, 2022

Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

John 4:9-18

It’s difficult to talk about God’s refreshing without going to John 4. In this familiar passage of scripture, Jesus sends his disciples away for food (physical refreshing), while meeting this woman of ill-repute who needs a spiritual refreshing.

Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water, and she pointed out the barriers between them. In John 4:9b, she says, “How can you ask me for a drink (for Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” Jesus then made comparisons between natural water and “living water.” If she drinks the living water, she will not thirst again. Jesus knew this woman was looking for a place of refreshment (rest, support, relief), as she went from one man to another (John 4:18). When Jesus offers eternal refreshment from “living water”, this woman left the waterpot that would have refreshed her temporarily to go tell others about the one who could eternally satisfies (John 4:28).

What have you used to refresh you that has disappointed you? A partner. A job. Money. Property. Children. Religion. All of these things may feel good for a while, but they CANNOT refresh you.

PRAYER: Lord, I lay the things at your feet that I have used to refresh me, knowing all the while that those things were never created to meet that need. My true refreshment comes from You and You, alone. In the name of Jesus, Amen.