Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
In 1986 my family and I lived in the town of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. In those days posted letters were still the main way to communicate with family and friends. The Redcliffe post office was right across the street from the Pacific Ocean and its glorious beach. When I got mail from other parts of the world, I would find a park bench or picnic table on the beach and read these letters from a far country.
Like the proverb says, it was cold waters to my thirsty soul. If these letters could invoke a sense of fulfillment in my soul and bring a joy that was needed for the day, then how much more is the word of God able to fill our thirsty souls with what will give us eternal life forever on earth and in heaven.
Like the proverb says, it was cold waters to my thirsty soul. If these letters could invoke a sense of fulfillment in my soul and bring a joy that was needed for the day, then how much more is the word of God able to fill our thirsty souls with what will give us eternal life forever on earth and in heaven.
A word in season can make all the difference in gaining a victory in Christ. We read in the Gospel of John, in chapter four the story of the Samaritan woman who has a divine appointment with Jesus at Jacob’s well. Jesus was the good news from a far country and the word that He gave this woman was to her, cold water to a thirsty soul.
Her victory begins when she says, John 4:19 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. The woman’s soul had been opened to the good news she needed in her life that day. The change in her was immediate as she began to proclaim the good news to her neighbours. John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Her question, “Is this not the Christ?” is so incredible because she gets, in one encounter with Jesus, the whole picture of who Jesus is. He is the Christ, ” The anointed one.” Its meaning is the same as the Hebrew word “Messiah.”
Her victory begins when she says, John 4:19 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. The woman’s soul had been opened to the good news she needed in her life that day. The change in her was immediate as she began to proclaim the good news to her neighbours. John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Her question, “Is this not the Christ?” is so incredible because she gets, in one encounter with Jesus, the whole picture of who Jesus is. He is the Christ, ” The anointed one.” Its meaning is the same as the Hebrew word “Messiah.”
The woman’s profound declaration of “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did.” is the word in season that changed her life forever. She no longer needed men in her life to give her a sense of well being or fulfilment, because she had now met the Man Jesus who filled her heart with real life.
I am just thinking out loud here, but it would not surprise me if after she hears of the Crucifixion of this same Jesus that she becomes a major leader in the first church in Samaria.
I am just thinking out loud here, but it would not surprise me if after she hears of the Crucifixion of this same Jesus that she becomes a major leader in the first church in Samaria.
Saul, on his way to Damascus, encounters a face to face with the risen Lord. The illumination of that encounter blinded Saul and struck him so hard, spiritually, that he understands his call to the gentiles and soon after uses his name Paul the Apostle of faith in Christ. What was the word in season for Saul? Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
I believe the word was, “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” After this revelation of who Jesus is and Paul’s personal healing is fulfilled, his life is immediately turned around and he begins to preach Christ Crucified. Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
I believe the word was, “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” After this revelation of who Jesus is and Paul’s personal healing is fulfilled, his life is immediately turned around and he begins to preach Christ Crucified. Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
When we are given a word in season, it becomes a healing balm to our parched souls and a strength for our hearts that will cause faith to rise up and become an overcoming faith. The word in season that feels like cold water to our thirsty soul is, “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Thank you for the correction Larry, I have made the change on the blog. The key is, a word in season will get us using our faith and who knows what our name will end up being. Blessings.
Hi Norm, hey thanks for the great analogy this morning, I now understand the answer. In this blog you say that Sauls' name was changed. I have always followed the line that it was not changed from a to b but that a and b were both his proper names. a was his Hebrew name, and being born a Roman citizen Paul was his Greek name. ( just a small consideration) bless you bro