John 4:7

"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?' ".

I love this story of the woman at the well, but not for the usual reason.  It is a fabulous story of redemption and evangelization, but there's also another aspect to it that is pretty much overlooked.  I was reading this story quite some time ago and I asked Jesus to show me something in it that I didn't know, and wow!! did He ever open my eyes.  I just LOVE it when I ask like this and the answer is instantly given!!! 

Jesus and the disciples had been out in the Galilee region and were on their way back home, having to take the route through Samaria.  This would be a nice spot for a bit of history and geography, but we'll forego that for the moment.  It was a long, hot, dusty, dirty walk and they had used up all the bottled spring water that had been in their backpacks.  And as the scripture goes, Jesus was tired and sat down by the well.   (why  is it that we never think that Jesus ever got tired, or hungry or thirsty . .  . . . )  Along comes this pretty Samaritan woman (she must have been pretty to have had 6 men in her life) and Jesus asks her for a drink.  Simple request.  Nothing hard.  Please, may I have a drink, I'm really parched.

Well, the usual thing happened when we don't want to do something, we make excuses.  And that's exactly what this woman did.  She gave a whole list of excuses, and then decided to have a conversation with Jesus.  Before long, she dropped what she was doing and ran back to her village.

We (hopefully) and Jesus are one, while the Samaritan woman represents the world.  Children of God have times of thirst and hunger and we reach out to others to help us refill our resivoirs.  But we must realize that you can never turn to the world for your spiritual refreshing because you will never receive it.  People of the world have absolutely no idea what people of God require for refreshment, therefore they cannot provide it.  Sadly, even in the church we must use spiritual discernment in determining who we trust with spiritual matters.

The woman at the well never gave Jesus a drink and people of the world will never give you one, either.  Only in Christ will we find our complete refreshment and no where else.  Go ahead and look, but you're wasting your time.

Is your spirit so tuned in to the Holy Spirit that you can instantly ask for direction in spiritual matters and you know, KNOW, that you are going to receive an answer?  When you are asked a question, will you start giving excuses or will you instantly call upon the Lord, knowing the answer is coming?  When you're dry and thirsty, when your spirit is yearning for a drop of spiritual nourishment, where do you go?  To whom do you turn?  Are your needs being met? 

Lord Jesus, I thirst for you.  As King David said, as the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you my God.  Fill me, nourish me, refresh me with your Holy Spirit, that I may share with others the joy of your salvation.  Amen.