John 4:11-12 She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?"
Is it possible to get the supernatural from the natural? Jesus spoke of the supernatural, living water that would satisfy this woman’s thirst forever, and she could only think in the realm of the natural. This is always the focus of unbelief. We saw the same unbelief in Nicodemus back in chapter 3. Jesus spoke of the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, and Nicodemus, at the time, could only think in natural terms. The Samaritan woman and Nicodemus lived by what they could see, taste, and experience in the natural realm. How about you? How much of your life is consumed with the natural instead of the supernatural?
The apostle Paul encouraged the Colossians to focus on the supernatural instead of the natural when he wrote, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died (that is, died to your life in this world) and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3). Can you see that Paul and Jesus were speaking of the same thing—supernatural eternal life in Christ?
Unbelief, focusing on things as they are on the earth, is the greatest hindrance to living to love with Jesus. The love of God through our lives doesn’t come from a natural well. We can’t draw love out of our natural thinking, feeling, and fleshly efforts. It comes from the well-spring of living water residing within us that issues forth from where Christ is seated above in the heavenlies. So many people try to love their spouses, children, and others by looking at the natural realm. If you focus on the person, with all of their inadequacies, fleshly flaws, and offenses toward you, you’ll find it impossible to love them. You aren’t loving them with Jesus, you’re being hindered by unbelief.
Faith focuses on Jesus, His victory over the flesh, sin, and death, His fullness, and His love, which is the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of another, no matter what the cost, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God. Faith is what God has provided as the means to draw from the well of His life and love.
So when you feel weary and thirsty, look to Jesus. Draw from His life within, and then pour out what you receive to those around you who are weary and thirsty. That’s drinking the living water, of which Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman. When you turn from unbelief and live out of the living water of Christ, you are living to love with Jesus.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
