Water—it is a central image in the Bible, a powerful symbol of life, cleansing, refreshment, and renewal. So we find a river appearing repeatedly in Biblical stories and visions as an image of God’s abundant blessing, and the theme comes to its culmination in Jesus, who declared that He is the source of “living water”; as he said, “Those who drink of the water that I give them will never be thirsty. The water that I give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

Jesus is the source of 'living water' in our lives today. Share on X

How much do we need that water of life to flow within us! We are invited to come to Christ in faith, so that the river of God’s transforming grace can flow through us, and enable us to share in how God is at work in our world. As Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)

Sunday’s Scripture Readings
Isaiah 41:17–18, 44:3–4, 58:11
John 4:4–24, 7:37–38
Ezekiel 47:1–12
Revelation 22:1–2

A photo posted by UMC of Kent, Ohio (@kentmethodist) on Jan 12, 2017 at 10:00am PST

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.