Springs of Living Water
Spring is that beautiful time of the year when new life sprouts up from seemingly dead things. A leave-less tree buds, spring flowers poke out above the ground, a gentle breeze with warmer air touches your cheeks, and a hesitating sunbeam pops up and squeezes itself through the winter sky. Spring is the time of new beginnings.
As much as God gives spring to nature, He gives new beginnings to us. He is the new beginning for anyone longing for a change—He quenches the thirst of dry souls. God is the eternal spring of living water, giving life to anyone who drinks from it. All we need to do is reach out and drink from that living water.
God, the spring of living water Jesus said He is the living water (John 4:10), but that isn’t the first reference to it. God Himself is THE spring of living water.
When God created the universe, He Himself watered His creation to bring life. He gives life to us in the same way, by being the spring of living water in us. “When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land.” Genesis 2:4-6 (NLT)
An early example of living water in the Bible comes from Jeremiah 2:13 where God says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” This verse shows so clearly our need to rely on God for everything we need. Water stands for life—without water, we cannot live. And if we think we can do it by ourselves, we would end up having broken containers that cannot hold water. We ourselves would be broken. If we want life, we need to rely on God, the spring of living water, and drink from the springs of living water.
Drinking from the spring of living water
“But those who drink the water
I give will never be thirsty again.
It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them
, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 (NLT).
God promises His living water in us will become a sparkling spring in us if we drink from it. Jesus Himself is the living water and wants to give that life to us—but we need to reach out, take it, and drink it. We will not be refreshed by simply sitting down and waiting for Jesus to fill us. Even though God is the spring of living water, we will only benefit from it when we take action. And when we take that action, Jesus will not reject us. “And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life’.” Revelation 21:6 (NLT)
We as springs of living water
In John 7 verse 38 (NLT) we read, “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!
For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’.” When we believe in Jesus, the Son of God, springs of living water will also flow from us.
But again, we can only have those springs in us if we first drink from Jesus’ living water. When we do so, the next thing we should do is to live according to it. We cannot live double lives anymore.
“Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?” James 3:11 (NLT)
“Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” James 3:12 (NLT)
The ‘rivers of living water’ Jesus was referring to is the Spirit of God working in and flowing out of the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. We can’t do it ourselves. “When he said, ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.” John 7:39 (NLT)
Springs of living water flow from us When we drink from the ultimate spring of living water, we will become a spring of living water as well. Rivers of living water flow from us in two different ways:
The Holy Spirit working through us to bring transformation to the world
One way the springs of living water flow from us is the Holy Spirit working through us to bring about a transformation into the world. This could manifest in various ways, such as through acts of service, evangelism, or simply living a life that reflects the love and character of Christ. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, we become channels through which God’s love and power can flow to others. This can be a humbling and transformative experience, as we realize it is not our own strength or abilities that bring about change, but the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.
The overflow of the Holy Spirit within us
The other way the springs of living water flow from us is the overflow of the Holy Spirit within us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it spills out of us as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. This overflow of the Holy Spirit is contagious, it draws others to the love and joy they see in us. It is also a source of strength and encouragement for us, as we draw from the spring of living water within us to face the challenges and trials of life.
How can we experience springs of living water flowing from us?
One way to think about the Holy Spirit as a spring of living water in us, is to imagine a river flowing through us. This river is not just any river, but a river that is alive and life-giving, bringing freshness, vitality, and renewal wherever it goes. When we believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, this river flows through us, bringing life and power to our thoughts, words, and actions. It transforms us from the inside out, renewing our minds and hearts—empowering us to love and serve others how Jesus did.
How do we tap into this river of living water? How do we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us and transform us into the people God created us to be? The answer lies in cultivating a deep and abiding relationship with God through prayer, worship, and the reading of Scripture. When we spend time in the presence of God, we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us. Here are a few suggestions:
- Seek the Holy Spirit through worship. The first step in experiencing the rivers of living
water flowing from us is to seek the Holy Spirit through worship. Worship is not just
listening or singing worship music, but it’s a way of living. - Cultivate a daily habit of prayer and Bible reading. Spending time in communication
with God and studying His Word can help you draw closer to Him and become more
aware of His presence in your life. - Practice gratitude and contentment. Recognizing and appreciating the blessings in your
life can help you cultivate a sense of peace and joy that comes from trusting in God’s
provision. - Serve others. Jesus taught that the greatest among us are those who serve, and serving
others can be a way to express the love of Christ and share the good news of salvation
with those around us. - Stay connected to the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you,
and be open to His leading as you go about your daily life. Trust in His wisdom and
strength, and rely on Him for the resources you need to live a full and abundant life.
Take-away
To live ‘the Christian life’, we need a constant inflow of living water. We can get that by staying connected to God each second of the day and in everything we do. It is then that we can be a spring of living waters for others. God gives us freely from His spring of living water—to quench our own trust, saturate our souls, and be a blessing to others.
And he also said,
‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life’.” Revelation 21:6 (NLT)
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