Through the Eyes of the Flesh

 Through the Eyes of the Flesh

The “Red-Letter Words” of Jesus

Day 43

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

The Samaritan woman tried to understand Jesus’ spiritual truths through the eyes the of her flesh and current situation. Sir, I’m all in. Give me this water so I won’t ever thirst and won’t have to perform this tedious task anymore. Bring it on.

Don’t be too harsh on the Samaritan woman because if you’re judging her worldly response, you’re judging me too. Even though I’m a Christian and Jesus’ Spirit lives within me, there are times I forget it’s not about the flesh. When I do forget, I’m off on one of my tangents seeking things that don’t satisfy.

Let me get real with you. While working on this devotion I became sidetracked by Facebook. I posted something on a denominational page and wondered if anyone had responded to it. Right in the middle of a sentence in the second paragraph, I logged onto Facebook to see folks’ reaction to what I posted. Sadly, I was looking for a feel-good moment to validate myself apart from Jesus. (Smack dab in the middle of me trying to be spiritual no less.)

Since I’m being vulnerable why not continue. (Gulp.) I’ve been stuffing my face more than I’ve been feeding my soul. There, I said it. A few years ago, I lost forty pounds but over the past couple of years I’ve packed quite a bit of it back on. Why? Because I want instant, endorphin-filled (think dark chocolates) gratification. It never lasts and I find myself back in the kitchen again. (I know the issue isn’t “what I’m eating but what’s eating me.” That’s an issue for another time.)

It’s easy to judge the Samaritan woman for her fleshly response, and yet, here I am as a Christian seeking carnal things knowing they won’t satisfy me.

In the next devotion, we’ll look at the fountain of water which can satisfy the dryest of souls; the Samaritan woman’s and mine.

Father, forgive me where I’ve looked elsewhere for satisfaction and validation. Forgive me for investing my time in stuff that will never quench my thirst. Please satisfy the hungering and thirsting in my soul with Your living water. In Jesus’ name, Amen.