The Spring of Living Water

Jeremiah 2:13 states, "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."

During the time of the people of Israel before Jesus, water was very important. It was a basic element of life, especially in that part of the world. Cisterns would hold water, especially during those long times when there was little water to be found. Having a good cistern was essential to basic survival. The image of God as a spring of living water gave more hope for a desert people than we can imagine. All we have to do for clean, safe water is turn on a faucet. It's hard for us to imagine the great trouble one would have gone to in those days (or still goes to in many parts of the world) just for the basic survival need of water.

During the time of Lent, we think about what is basic to life. We try to give up some of those extraneous things like chocolate or caffeine or alcohol. And what is more basic to our life than water? And is not God, the spring of living water, the most basic part of our lives? Yet, do we truly live like God is the most basic part of our life? Is God at the very center? Is God the basic foundation for each day of our lives?

If we are not living as if God is the basic water in our lives, what are we trying to substitute? What broken cistern are we using? During this time of Lent, it is a great opportunity really to look into our hearts. It is good for us to think about our basic foundation and reliance in life. We might try to substitute people, parties, shopping, food, the internet or media - any of these things for the living spring of God. Think about when things go very poorly in your life. Think about your first reaction. Is it to turn to God or someone who can help you know God's presence in your life? Or do we try to find some broken cistern that will only let us down? With the broken cistern, we won't have the water we need in our lives. Our spring will run dry.

During these 40 days, as you give up something unnecessary, take some time to think about what is the most basic element of your life. Pray about how God can truly be the basic spring of living water.