Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14, NIV)
Last month as I was watching Cameron Champ, the eventual tournament winner, prepare to tee off midway through the back nine in the final round of the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota on a 90+ degree muggy afternoon, I noticed something a bit odd. He was moving slower than on previous holes. At one point, he bent over and put his hands on his knees. Even with a several shot lead with only a few holes to go, he did not look very comfortable or stable. He seemed dizzy or woozy. In his postgame press conference, he admitted that he became dehydrated.
If you have ever experienced some degree of dehydration, you know the feeling: sluggishness, lethargy, loss of focus, loss of balance, thirst, and loss of mental acuity. Dehydration can be a killer. When the hot temperatures roll into the desert valley where I live, I start consuming electrolyte drinks at least an hour before my tee time. During my round, I make sure I take a drink of water or a sports drink as I finish each hole. These precautionary steps help me avoid getting dehydrated on the course.
Besides the danger of physical dehydration, we also face the danger of “spiritual dehydration,” which manifests itself with similar symptoms. An indifferent and lukewarm attitude towards God begins to creep into my life. I have less interest in studying his word. I feel less excited about joining my brothers and sisters in worship, Bible study, or fellowship. My time in daily prayer decreases and I tend to call on God only in desperate times. My sensitivity to sin is dulled. My willingness to serve others dissipates. When the reality of what is happening causes me to take time to examine these symptoms, I quickly realize how incredibly thirsty I am for the “living water” that only Jesus can offer.
Jesus offers us living water so that we never have to worry about getting spiritually dehydrated.
Jesus offers us living water so that we never have to worry about getting spiritually dehydrated. However, we must observe the same discipline we employ to stay physically hydrated.
Whether we’re trying to escape from a period of spiritual dehydration or are trying to prevent it from setting in, there are several steps we can take to avoid the danger. Our daily prayer needs to be a priority and not a last resort. Regularly spending time in Scripture alone or in a small group like a Links Fellowship will help keep us focused on trying to be more like Jesus. Engaging in worship, attending church, and enjoying the fellowship of other believers can serve to remind us that we need to drink of the living water constantly so that we are never thirsty again.
When we quench our thirst with the living water, not only are we refreshed, but we are then able to share the living water with those around us. As Jesus shouted at the Feast of the Tabernacles: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38).
The remedy for spiritual dehydration is flowing along right before us—all we need to do is drink of the living water.
—
Mark “Ole” Olson
August 31, 2021
Copyright 2021 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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