By RaeLynn DeAngelis
I absolutely love studying the Bible. It is so deep, we will never get to the bottom of it. Often when I study God’s Word, I end up going down rabbit holes. One verse leads to another, and God takes me on a journey into deeper understanding.
When I was preparing to speak at a women’s retreat recently, God directed me to James 4:8. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”
As I meditated on this verse, I was prompted to look up the definition for the word DRAW. Oftentimes, God gives me deeper revelation when I look up the meaning of certain words. This time was no exception. One of the definitions I found resonated in my spirit more than the others.
DRAW – “To pull up or out of a receptacle or place.”
A proverbial door was unlocked in my mind, reminding me of the woman at the well, when Jesus told her about living water.
In biblical times, living water flowed from a continual source, like a river, brook, or stream. It was considered the best water, because it was always fresh—not stagnant.
But the “living water” Jesus refers to in John 4 is not physical water; it is spiritual. Living Water comes from the LORD and provides spiritual refreshment. It flows from the throne room of God.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).
Continuing down the proverbial rabbit hole, I was reminded that WATER is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible.
- In the beginning of creation, God’s spirit hovered over the waters.
- Noah and his family were saved atop the water during the great flood.
- Moses was drawn out of the water (the Nile) and saved by Pharaoh’s daughter.
- God’s people crossed through the Red Sea with a wall of water on their right and left.
- The bitter water at Marah was turned sweet after Moses threw in a stick.
- Water gushed from a rock when Moses stuck it with His staff.
- The Jordan waters parted, allowing the Israelite’s to cross safely to the other side.
- Gideon’s army was reduced in number based on how they drank water.
- God sustained Elijah with water from the brook.
- Naaman was cleansed from leprosy when he dipped into the river’s water 7 times.
- The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine.
- John baptized with water.
- Jesus told Peter to let down his net into the water for another catch.
- Jesus spoke to the wind and waves, making the water calm.
- Jesus walked on water and invited Peter to do the same.
- When the soldier pierced Jesus’ side on the cross, water poured out.
Those are just a few examples. I bet you can think of others.
We clean with water, we drink water, and we grow things with water. Water covers 70% of the earth’s surface. Our bodies are made up of 60% of water. Even in our mother’s womb we are encased in a sack of water. Water is essential for life.
We have all been born once. But the key to life-eternal is being born twice.
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5-6).
Father in heaven, let your living water flow! Amen.
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