Sychar, where living water flowed

Last week, I had the pleasure of preaching at a youth retreat for another church, in Panama City Beach. It was an awesome time of devotions and worship services.

One night in the middle of worship, we were singing a song that included the line, “My heart will sing no other name… Jesus.” In the middle of the song, the Holy Spirit took me to a story found in the book of John, chapter four. Jesus went to a well outside the city of Sychar at noon, to meet a Samaritan woman. To say it was an awkward moment for her would be an understatement. First, it was unacceptable for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman. Secondly, after asking her for a drink, Jesus made a profound statement. He said if she knew who He was; she would have asked Him, and He would have given her living water. He promised that anyone who drank from the living water would never thirst again. The woman replied, “Sir, give me this living water that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

Then things really became unpleasant for her. Jesus instructed her to go get her husband. When she stated that she didn’t have a husband, Jesus exclaimed, “You’re right, you’ve had five husbands and the man you’re with now isn’t your husband.” For the point of this article, we will stop here.

As we sang, “My heart will sing no other name,” I had this feeling of sorrow for the woman. I thought, not once, not twice, but five times she thought that she had found the right man to meet her needs. She gave herself to each one of them only to be left empty and alone. But now, she had met the one that she didn’t even know she was looking for. The one that would give her peace, true love and even confidence, had come to her.

Isn’t it true that we also, at times, try to find ways to satisfy our heart’s desires by means other than Jesus? It’s not even fair for us to expect other people or groups to be able to meet the same needs He supplies, not even our spouses. When we do, we put a load on them that they aren’t capable of carrying. Then we are only left disappointed.

I’m so glad that Jesus proved Romans 5: 8, when He gave living water to the Samaritan woman. He offers the same today to anyone who asks. Don’t pass up His offer. Be Blessed.