Drink from the Well

It is hot! It is really hot! Between the high temperatures and extreme dew point, there is a extreme heat warning in effect for the metro area. That means that it isn't safe for folks to be outside for any great lengths of time. It also isn't safe to leave the pets outside for any length of time. Our dog, Zebulun, doesn't like to go out in this heat. He loves the AC. Then again, every time I am outside and walk into the AC, I will think, "Thank God that He gave someone the knowledge of how to make AC work." Weather like this makes us give thanks to God for those things we often forget about on most occasions.

One thing that is needed on these hot days is to continue to stay hydrated. It is important to drink plenty of water to refresh the body and keep it healthy. Without the water, the body will begin to have all sorts of problems.

As I thought about that today, my mind went to the account of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well of Jacob. You can find this encounter in John 4. The subject of the discussion between the two begins with water. Jesus asks her for a drink of water. Soon the discussion goes from the physical (needing water) to the spiritual (needing water). Jesus says to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whomever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14 ESV) The water that Jesus is talking about is that Word of eternal life that He brings to all.

The Word of God (and Jesus is that Word as John tells us in John 1) is the life-giving water that quenches the eternal thirst of the soul. We are called to drink deeply from this well of eternal life. There in the Word we will hear of all that our Lord has done and continues to do for us in our lives. He will refresh our souls day after day. This wondrous, life-giving Water flows over us (in the waters of Baptism), through us (through the hearing and reading of the Bible) and fills us (in the Lord's Supper).

You wouldn't think of trying to mow the lawn without drinking water on these hot days (or on most days). Why would you think of trying to go through your daily life without those blessed Means of Grace refreshing you? Jesus invites us to the Well of Living Water. Come to the Well. Drink deeply of what He gives to you and be refreshed.

It has been a while since posting

Yes it has been a while. Why? I haven't sat down and blogged. During June, July and early August, I enjoyed sitting on the front porch for devotions and reading. Now that school is back in session, I don't have the mornings free to sit and read like I was. While sitting on the porch, the computer sat on the table, looking forlorn. Poor thing. When I finally came in, I didn't feel like blogging.

I also have the new page on the Church website, www.saintpaulstroy.org which I need to keep up-to-date weekly which makes me think about what to write there. What I write on the church page will be different from my blog. 

Any thoughts to share. Yes. I enjoyed Hawaii. I loved the views, the weather, the food, the ocean, the ship, the sights and sounds, the traveling, the wonder of creation. Penny and I celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss with a trip to the islands and a cruise around the islands. 10 days and nearly 2000 pictures later, we came home to reality. Loved it. Might say more later.

Summer was amazingly short. Summer is always wonderful. Time on the front porch to enjoy the nature God has given us. Warm weather. Sunshine. Early sunrises, late sunsets. All of that makes for a wonder of life. I sit and watch the birds, the bees, the butterflies and the flowers and amazed. God really did a great job with creation. 

 I guess today I am thinking more about God's creation. He made all this in just 6 days! Just because He wanted to make it. And then He made man and woman to be in a relationship with Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, He still loved them and wanted to be in a relationship with them. So He promised them a Savior, which just happened to be His only-begotten Son! Suffering and dying on the cross, the Son of God won salvation for all mankind. What a wonder it really is! 

In the end, all I can say is thank you God! Thank You for Your love. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for salvation. Thank You for creation. Thank You for life. Thank You God.