Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38
“We need to drink deeply of the Lord and out of our innermost being, not merely a canal or channel. We need drink deeply of the Lord, and out of our innermost depths shall flow rivers of living waters… Unfortunately, many living waters become dead waters after they have passed through a man’s innermost depths. A minister of God’s Word is to be the channel for giving living waters to people. The ministry of the Word is not merely objective, for the Word is the living water that has come forth after having been thoroughly digested within the minister himself. God does not want mere objective ministry. His Word must have the human element.”
Watchman Nee in Spiritual Discernment (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc.) 38-39.
Yesterday Sammy, my son, and I served as fly fishing guides for the GTP team. Ruthie, Ereny, and Shawn did great landing 15 trout. It was a gorgeous morning of wading in the Colorado River. Just like the water teemed with life, so must we. The living water must stir in us and flow through us so that we are giving living water wherever we go. Does His water flow through you or are you dead water?
We are only alive if we are letting the Word flow in and out. This requires discipline in a busy world, tuning out the noise in a world filled with chaos, and identifying places to dispense God’s blessings lest they stagnate with us. To give living water you must tap into it and dispense it. It’s one of few things more fun than a day of fly fishing (and I love fly fishing). It’s more like serving as a fly fishing guide: sharing the blessing with others.