Living Waters

As I mark day 7 of my weight loss journey I wanted to share a revelation I had last night.  One of the most important things that I am doing in conjunction with my food journal is drinking at least 64 oz of water a day.  It was difficult the first two days and I felt water logged.  Then as each day has passed since, it has been easier to drink the entire half gallon by the end of the day.  At night I refill my half gallon water bottle and put it in the fridge for the next day.  Last night as I lay in bed my lips were parched and my throat was dry... I marveled at how this was possible given the amount of water I have been drinking.  Being the curious person that I am I hopped on the Internet to learn a little more about water and to make sure I could drink more than the daily recommended amount.  Ultimately I found out that water is amazing and as long as you don't drink a ridiculous amount all at once, you really can't have too much. (Check out the link for an article I read about the benefits of water.) So why is this entry titled "Living Waters"?  What revelation did I have?

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'" John 4:10

(If you are unfamiliar with this passage of scripture...Jesus is speaking with a Samaritan woman at the well--something a man would never do at that time-- and ultimately offers her "living water".)  So what is Jesus offering her?  If we look back in the Old Testament we see what context Jesus is taking this phrase from.  Twice in Jeremiah God identifies himself as "living water". 

"O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water." Jeremiah 17:13

(And also Jeremiah 2:13 for those of you who are interested.)



Even more interesting is that God identifies himself as a "spring" - water from a spring is pure, unblemished, safe to drink and edifying to the body.  I don't think it is any coincidence that purified drinking water has so many amazing benefits, not to mention on the most basic level it is needed to survive.  No wonder God and Jesus (one in the same by the way) identify and relate themselves as living water.  It is a metaphor that transcends the ages - eternally relevant to humanity. But what is even more special for me in my moment last night was that even when I increased my intake of water to the "recommended" amount - in just a few short days I was still going to sleep parched, my body longing for more water!  And Jesus leaned in close and whispered to my heart - "I am Living Water... you will never get too much of me.  The more you drink, the more you will find yourself going to sleep parched - longing for more of me."  Isn't it funny how - if we pay attention - God can teach us in the smallest aspects of our day?

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17