Helper 2

Psalm 42:1-2

Years ago we used to visit a web site that had cameras positioned at African watering holes. The camera took photos every thirty seconds or so and then published them to the Internet. You could watch these pictures and in time see a wide variety of animals coming to drink – lions, elephants, hyenas, gazelles, and zebras.

You never knew what you might see. But the same was true of the animals. They never knew what other animal might already be at the watering hole when they arrived. But it didn’t matter. They needed to drink.

This psalm presents a similar image. To what animal does the psalmist compare our souls? Who does the writer’s soul thirst for? What is the question asked?

Water is that life-giving element that all creatures need to survive. The image of a deer in a parched land longing to take a deep drink of fresh water conjures up an image of desperate need and longing.

Like the writer of the psalm, we too should thirst for the presence of God in our lives. We too desperately need to be renewed through the life-giving abilities of God. That sensation of thirst that we can all identify with at one time or another should be similar to the desire of our souls. We should desperately desire to have our own spirits refreshed by God.

But we do not have to wait until we feel desperation or hopelessness. The psalmist asks “When can I go and meet with God?” The answer is that at any time we can turn to the Lord and allow our spirits to be in His refreshing presence. And if we are able to meet with God, spend time in prayer and communion with the living God, then we will always have that source of strength and renewing energy to face our lives.

The spiritual thirst that is described is something we must surely feel every day, and something we should feel every day. Our time with God does not need to be limited to our times of desperation. Instead we should always ask “When can we meet with God?”

And we should know that the answer is “now, always.” We can always stand in the presence of God and feel His refreshing presence.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Take time daily to meet with God.

Helper 1

John 7:37

There is a joke about a woman who enters the public library, goes up to the librarian, and says, “I would like a hamburger, fries and a coke.”

The librarian explains, “Ma’am, this is a library.”

The woman looks around at all the people reading and then turns back to the librarian. This time she whispers, “I would like a hamburger, fries and a coke.”

She knew that she was supposed to be quiet in a library, but she was missing the point that she had gone to the wrong place to get what she needed.

In this passage from John Jesus has attended the Festival of Tabernacles and on the last day, the height of the celebration, the priest pours out water onto the ground as a reminder of God’s benevolence. Jesus took this opportunity to make his own declaration. What is it? Is Jesus talking about people who are physically thirsty? What does he mean?

The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles is a wonderful reminder that God cares for His people. It is a celebration of God protecting His people. But with his declaration Jesus is pointing out an important truth. If any person is spiritually thirsty, if that person desires the soul refreshment that the Almighty can give, that person can turn to Jesus to get that solace.

So often in our lives we need to know that God cares about us. So often we are faced with challenges that push us to the edge of emotional stability. We may feel desperate and alone. We may feel that there is no hope for our situation.

And in times like these we may look for help, comfort and solace from many different sources. Some people may turn to alcohol for relief. Others may rely on drugs to help them get by. Others may take a less extreme approach and seek help from friends or family. Others may look for help from total strangers to relieve their stress.

But these approaches are like looking for food at a library. We are going to the wrong place to find our help. When the challenges of life confront us, when we feel alone and helpless, we need to remember to turn to Jesus for help. Jesus is the one who is able to refresh our thirsting souls. Jesus is able to renew our strength and give us the hope and help we need.

Who is Jesus? He is Savior and teacher. But he is also our helper in times of need. He is the one who can quench the spiritual thirst we have.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you turn to Jesus to be refreshed?

Youth Week 4

John 4:13-14

Our area, northwest Ohio, is suffering through quite a drought. It has been more than four weeks since we had less than ¾ inch of rain, and almost two months since we had a good rain that saturated the ground. The crops are suffering. The lawns are brown. The streambeds and ditches are drying up.

The need for refreshing, life-giving water is apparent. The thought of clear, flowing streams of water is a desperate longing many of us have. Life cannot exist without water. We cannot make it through even part of a day without drinking some liquid refreshment to keep us going.

Today’s passage is part of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well. What is the comparison he makes? What is the water he offers?

He had asked for a drink of water. She was there gathering the water she would need to make it through the day. A nice, cool cup of water on a hot and dusty day would be a welcome relief, but it would only be temporary.

So it is even with us. We can drink our fill until we are comfortable, but the need will quickly return.

But Jesus is talking about a different kind of water. Jesus is talking about the spiritual refreshment that life in the Holy Spirit offers.

Just as our daily activities and efforts will make us physically thirsty, so living in the world can make us spiritually thirsty. We may find ourselves longing for the comfort and strength, the new life, which only God can give. Dealing with daily temptations, struggling with problems and fears can wear us out. Our souls can be thirsty for some type of respite, some type of comfort, some type of energy.

We can find that by living a life that follows the teaching of Christ and is obedient to the will of God. We can be refreshed when we accept that Jesus is our Savior. And that refreshment is not a temporary respite from our struggles, but it is a constant refreshment for us, a constant wellspring of living water that fills us again and again. The presence of Jesus in our life, in our thoughts and our attitudes can keep our souls refreshed and welling up with living water that is the love of God.

Our youth offered water to strangers during their SOS experience. With that encounter they had the opportunity to invite spiritually thirsty people into a new life with Christ, into a relationship that involves the living water of Jesus.

Their ability to be compassionate and caring, their ability to be willing to share the good news with strangers, should be a refreshment to our souls. It should cause us to have that living water of God – the love of the Holy Spirit – well up in us that we might also be willing to spread the message of Christ.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you share the living water of Christ with anyone?