Heads bowed and eyes wet with the tears from the weight of daily struggles, a room full of women and children echoes with the sound of prayers. The day is full of singing and playing with children whose daily life is, at best, a struggle and for most, a journey of fear and suffering. For a brief moment in their lives, a group of children replace sad looks and frowns with smiles and laughter as our team plays with them and shares the love of Christ. As I watch this experience late in the day, as we are allowed to participate in a time of prayer and encouragement, I am reminded of the Samaritan woman. The people we are sharing with are some of the poorest people in the western hemisphere.
In the middle of this journey we call life, moments in time come that seem to stand still. It is in these times that the Lord clarifies or emphasizes something unique to us in the moment. This happened last week as we shared in a special time of worship and prayer for the women and children of Tabitha House in Guatemala City. I was among a people that even the Guatemalan church has a hard time reaching out to with love and compassion. Time seemed to pause when one of the mothers who had come for the service needed to leave with her child. She politely got up from her seat and grabbed the hand of her child. They began to make their way out of the room through the sea of children and team members holding on to the wandering children in the room.
This young woman was not more than twenty-five years old. She had a small glimmer of her former beauty slipping out from under her hat which was full of her long black hair. The top layer of her clothes was covered in black and grey dirt and grime from the day. Her feet almost as black as the thin rubber shoes she wore. As she walked out of the room my world stood still for a moment and the Lord spoke clearly to me. “This is the reason you are here." In that moment my mind raced through the entire background of the Samaritan woman and her story of encountering Jesus. I quickly processed the similarities that were possible with her life in that environment from my past experiences in the community. And then as it usually is those divine encounters, God spoke a word to me that will drive me forward in my calling and my service to the Kingdom!
John writes of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14. You and I have this living water on tap in our lives welling up inside us. Many of us seem to have forgotten this power that is deep within us. The Father has planned this entire experience in a way that will totally overwhelm us if we allow Him to work in us. Jesus’ words in this passage speak of a continual supply of living water that will transform lives and heal hurts. This living water will bring life and hope and salvation. This living water that wells up must at some point come out as it builds and grows. The purpose of a well is to supply many with the life giving necessity of water. The purpose of your redeemed life is to be that source of living water for those who are thirsty and need a fresh cup of water. It is in those moments of obedience that you and I will see the hand of God miraculously work in the life of the least of these!
Will you today ask the Father to position your life in such a way as to encounter someone today who needs some fresh water from the living water Himself? Will you be His ambassador and share the hope of His living water with those who are searching desperately for it? Will you sit down for a moment and allow the Lord to remind you of this source of LIFE itself that is in you and then ask Him to use you to reach the world and teach His Word to everyone you see?
