Don't Give a Dam

Have you ever felt like something is bottled up inside and it wants to come out?

As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. - John 7:38-39

In today's reading, John tells us two important things about the Holy Spirit.  The first comes from a quote Jesus makes, taken from Isaiah and/or Zechariah, that waters will flow in the land.

The way Jesus frames the statement, the living water will come not from him, but from the believers.

The second thing we learn from John is that this will only happen when the Holy Spirit comes, which doesn't take place until Jesus is glorified.  That spirit descends on Jesus at  his baptism by John the Baptizer, and descends on the disciples at Pentecost.

So, where does this all lead?

We receive the same Spirit at baptism, so that living water Jesus talks about can flow from us as well.  In a sense, God fills us with the water He wants to share with the world.

Wow!

Now if that makes you feel bloated, it should, but in a good sense.  It really is our main job, to be a conduit for God, reaching out to those in need, comforting those who are troubled, visiting those who are sick.

It really is an easy job, being a water source for the thirsty.  All we need to do is let the Spirit work through us.

Sometimes we confuse that with evangelism, and that's when we turn off the flow, we become a dam, rather than a spring.

I don't know too many people who are comfortable talking about Jesus, probably because we tend to believe that should be the work of the clergy, and that's ok.  They can do the hard talks.

When someone is hurting, when they need a shoulder to cry on, we can be there for them, without saying a word.

As Jesus tells us, the love we have for others will drive our actions, whether we know we are doing God's work or not.  It will just happen.  It will flow from our hearts, not because we seek to be water carriers, but because we are.

So, the message here, I think, is to let the water flow.  Don't think about it.  Don't stop and wonder if the person you feel compelled to visit will misunderstand and think you are trying to change them, convert them, or whatever.

I have found that letting the Spirit work is the way we serve God.  We shouldn't dam up the waters and stop them from flowing.

So, do we visit and give water, or do we give a dam?

It's our choice.

More to come...


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