Satisfying the Inner Thirst

A person in good health can live about 40 days without food, but only three days without water. However, in the aftermath of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, workers rescued a man who had been trapped without water in a collapsed building for nine days! His survival has been attributed to the cool, humid environment and the fact he had to lie still for more than a week.

 Psalms 42:1 says, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God" (NKJV). Today the Lord invites you to drink the water of life through the reading and hearing of His Word. And there's no need to wait nine days to satisfy that deep spiritual thirst within you.

Many years ago in the dark of night, a ship went down in the Atlantic Ocean east of South America. Four sailors barely managed to survive by transferring to a small lifeboat. But their troubles were just beginning, as they then drifted at sea aimlessly for several days under the blazing equatorial sun.

They became nearly delirious with thirst. Their only relief came by catching rainwater in their shirts from a small cloudburst, then wringing the raindrops into their mouths. Finally, they were spotted by another ship and were rescued. When the captain on the rescuing vessel asked why they were so thirsty, they responded, "Because we had nothing to drink." The captain explained, "But you're in an ocean of fresh water. All you had to do was let down your buckets!"

Evidently, their boat had drifted to a part of the ocean where the mighty Amazon River pushes out fresh water over a hundred miles into the Atlantic. Even though they couldn't see land, the sailors had been floating in a sea of fresh water. They were so sure the water was salty, they didn't even try to drink it. All they had to do was reach over the side of the boat to get all the water they needed; instead, they were dying of thirst while floating in a life-saving solution!

Yeshua said, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). Yet the world is dying from spiritual thirst while floating in a sea of living water! Even Believers forsake the water of life for sugary, artificial replacements that could never truly satisfy them like the blessings from God's Word. But there is even more to it than that.

In one ancient custom, once a person had accepted a drink of water from another, there was an unwritten understanding that they should ever be friends. In Mark 9:41, Yeshua says, "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Messiah ... he shall not lose his reward."

As we accept the water of life, we form a powerful bond with the Lord. Moreover, as we share the Living Water with other thirsting souls, we gain new brothers and sisters in Yeshua.

"He that believes in Me ... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38 NKJV). Please drink abundantly and share this water with others. You'll soon discover your own heart becoming an artesian well of Living Water refreshing those around you!