COOL DRINKS?
And, Jesus answered,”Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become IN HIM a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ~John 4:13-14
Do you believe these words? Jesus stood in the gap for this woman. He saw her thirst, even if she herself didn’t FEEL thirsty. Ever been there? I highly doubt you have walked through this life without the offer of a cool drink of water. Jesus wasn’t saying the woman at the well would never thirst again, but rather that she would never thirst for the things of this world after tasting of His goodness, His love. She may swerve from time to time, but it wouldn’t be because she’s lacking, simply not tapping into what she carries. She would realize there exists no trade for Jesus, and the Holy Spirit would give her all that she needed. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life….” 2 Peter 1:3
In my studies I have learned what was meant by ‘living waters.” To the Hebrews this meant, pure water that flowed, untouched by human hands. The reference made was to En Gedi. Merely 100 feet from the Judean wilderness lies a refreshing oasis, known as En Gedi. A spring of water runs from a rock down a cliff, creating the En Gedi Waterfall. A mile from this place one will find the stagnant Dead Sea. Sound familiar? Cisterns held muddy stagnant waters poured by human hands. Which would you choose? And to think the waters offered in this passage surpass anything resembling the refreshment of En Gedi. Dust, dryness, and caves make it appear impossible that En Gedi could ever satisfy thirst. In life, your circumstances may at times, paint a picture that elicits the same panorama described, but God is calling you to dine with Him and drink of waters that trump En Gedi. Do you hear Him?
If I could describe India’s impact upon my life, in one word, it would be HOSPITALITY. Our ministry during the month of July was with an after school program through an incredible organization that is changing stories for men, women, and children. By design, we were presented with the task of creating a program for children. We played games with them, sang songs, performed skits, and taught them how to pray over each other. In addition to our time spent with the children, we also paid special visits to their parents, and the parents of children not in the program. Often times, we would get stopped on the gravel paths between home visits in the village, pregnant with possibilities that you will not find on paper.
You know you are in India when you see a parade of plastic chairs, and can already predict what is coming next. Can you guess? You got it! The offer of a COOL DRINK! Most days it was room temperature water, but only because refrigeration was not an option. Believe me, if there was a way for them to cool it, they would travel the necessary mileage to make it happen. It pained me to ask, but I would request to know if it was purified water. Being sick is frustrating, but to me, missing ministry is devastating. I wasn’t asking for my benefit. Illness is a distraction from His purpose of sending me. When the government changes the water, the children fall ill, and it breaks my heart.
Most days cool drinks came in the form of bottles labeled Sprite, Maaza, or Thumbs Up. The people of India do not join you and dine with you. They serve you and wait till you have tasted of the goodness offered BEFORE they will share in it. You sit in chairs, if chairs are limited. You sit on beds, if beds are available. Not benches, THEIR personal beds. I’m sorry, but I don’t even allow others to sit on my sleeping pad. True story, as many have popped, and I desire to go to bed clean.
They would extend their hands and God would extend their reach with every cool drink offered. India gives of her BEST. Not her leftovers. Much like I believe in tithing because God deserves more than my leftovers. When I am out of the country, I don’t want any medical distractions, so I don’t share of my food or drink. We have had far too many miss ministry to heal from their illnesses. Instead, I offer my leftovers. I too want others to taste of the goodness, but not till I am finished. I know that sounds selfish, and believe me it is hard to live that way overseas, when at home I am the first to offer my family a taste, even if they insist they don’t want it. Life here doesn’t get to look the same as life at home, but I embrace the difference and instead choose to be intentional in other ways. Sharing what is left, remembering the favorites of others, and buying treats I don’t intend on partaking in, but just want to bless.
From house to house we would walk, our bladders telling us, no screaming at us, sounding the alarm, that we can’t consume another drop . Sorry TMI does not exist on World Race. And by the time we were finished with ministry each night we probably consumed 4-8 cool drinks. There were moments where I had to hand over a cool drink because I was sure my body could hold no more liquids. The truth is, it probably could, but I would be uncomfortable. I am not a stranger to the absence of comfort. You can’t leave the country and keep your comforts, and you don’t have to leave the country to lose them.
If you haven’t figured it out already, it was never about the cool drinks. The people of India were calling us to dine at God’s table every night. God had set a table, with cool drinks, curry, chapati, sweets, and more. We just had to say, “YES” and trust Him with our needs even when unaware. The offer of a cool drink was about the desire for the people of India to know us, spend time with us, and treat us to their BEST.
It is dangerous territory to become satisfied, and not trust Him with your thirst. He knows when you are thirsty for His creations over your Creator. He sees the moments you swerve, and beckons you HOME in heart and mind. Do you hear Him? He left evidence behind to deter you. Hosea 13:6 reads, “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Are you satisfied with your knowledge of Him, knowing the call on your life to KNOW and make Him KNOWN? My prayer for you is in your hands, or collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better (today and every tomorrow to come). I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” Ephesians 1:17-19 Cool drink, anyone?
