John 4:10: “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.'”

March 11th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Jesus said these remarkably confronting words to the Samaritan woman at the well: “If you knew the gift of God.” The gift Jesus was talking about was the Holy Spirit, which had been promised in Isaiah 44:3: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, / And floods on the dry ground; / I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, / And My blessing on your offspring.” The concept of living water is also found in Jeremiah 2:13, when God rebuked the disobedient Jews for rejecting Him, who is “the fountain of living waters.” In essence Jesus was saying, “If you knew who it is you’re talking to, you would be asking me for what was promised to you in the Book of Isaiah—living water.” Jesus was using the woman’s physical need for water to sustain life, especially in that arid region, as an illustration of her spiritual need for God and the Holy Spirit. She needed to be transformed. Jesus said if she had asked, “He would have given [her] living water.” Salvation is a gift. It is unearned, undeserved, and unmerited.

“If you knew the gift of God—.” If the world only understood just how lost we really are without Him; if the world only understood the tragic consequences of sin; if the world only understood the length to which God has gone to rescue us; if the world only understood just how great His love and concern are for us—if the world only understood—then they would ask. But sadly, most in the world do not know, so they die thirsty, having never asked God for His amazing gift of living water.

Today, people who are spiritually dying of thirst will surround most of us. Will we take water to them? Oh, they don’t understand their need, nor do they even know how to ask about it, but it is still so very deep. Do we care enough to chance a small witness, a kind word, or a mention of His name? Jesus was very gracious and loving with this woman as He explained her need to her. We need to follow the lead of our Savior by gently and lovingly offering water to those in need today.

“LORD, help us to be sensitive to the people around us this day. Show us how to open up Your gift of life to them in a way that they can understand.”