JC Bunkhouse
I remember havin’ a new group of stocker calves that couldn’t seem to make it around the pasture far enough to find the pond. I think it had been at least two days since they had a drink! I spent a couple hours tryin’ to get them to drink.
I also recall trying to disguise the taste of foreign water with kool-aid and other such enhancements trying to get my show calves to drink. I remember bringing jugs full of “home grown water” to the OKC show because they wouldn’t drink that “city water.” They often weren’t too interested in that, either. They likely wanted their big stock tank with the moss in it.
Some of y’all may remember the story Jerry Clower told of how Marcel Ledbetter was supposed to water them chickens? He didn’t much like doin’ the job, so he decided to make it more adventuresome. He filled a washtub with water and would grab up one of them chickens and hold it under and say somethin’ like, “Drink and drink plenty of it!” I don’t think that was what Aunt Pet had in mind. No, they weren’t drinkin’, it was more like something somewhere between drownin’ chickens and baptizing them.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” This is a true statement. This is also true with people.
Jesus offers us living water, but he doesn’t force it down us! Unlike Marcel, Jesus gives us the free choice to choose to follow Christ or turn Him down. What is this water Jesus talked about?
We all have a thirst for something more, something beyond what this world has to offer. It’s a void that never seems to get satisfied.
Some of y’all have received his drink by making Him the Lord of your lives. You’ve tasted the high quality H20 that the Lord gives and you have found true life!
But there’s a lot of folks who choose to say no to the eternal water Jesus offers. They are more interested in the things this world has to offer: stuff like money, a big ranch, a fancy pickup, a good horse, or more sadly, even a buddy’s wife. But none of that works at all.
The Bible tells of how Jesus was at a big gatherin’. It was the feast of Tabernacles. a celebration of how God had provided as the Israelites wandered through the wilderness. A part of this celebration was to celebrate how God had provided when the Israelites were in the desert and had no water for themselves or their cattle! So, God told Moses to strike the rock and water would come from it. And it did! On the last day of the feast Jesus reenacted this event – And that is when Jesus spoke!
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “ If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38 nasb)
Jesus is saying… I know you’re hurting! I know you’re tired! I know you’re thirsty! I know you’re sick of searching. He has sent out an open invite! “Come to me and drink!”
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:18 nasb)
I can’t help but think of the Sarah Evans song, “There Is A City.” It’s from Revelation 22:17 - The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Jesus offers you the free gift of living water! You can’t work for it; you can’t buy it off the internet. There is nothing you can do to ever deserve it. He is offering it for free!
Are you thirsty today? Jesus invites you to simply come to His trough and drink!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen