Living Water

(Prov 14:27 MSG) The Fear-of-GOD is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon reiterates the importance of the fear of God. Once again, this is not a reference to the type of fear that Jesus came to deliver us from; the distressing emotion aroused by impending (perceived or real) danger, evil, or pain. No, the fear of God is a reverence, respect, and awe of/for the Lord. It’s an acknowledgement of who He is, what He has done, and His proper role in our lives.

For Jehovah to be our Lord He must be the Lord of all, or He is not our Lord at all.

Can you say, without an equivocation, that Jesus is the Lord of your life? There are two positions that need to be filled every day and they are: the cross and the throne. If you are on the throne it means that you are making your own decisions, running your own operation, and ruling over your own life. That means that as far as you are concerned, Jesus is still on the cross. He is dead to you and while He is definitely the Lord of lords, He is not the Lord of your life, because you have failed to acknowledge Him as such.

However, if you are on the cross, dying to self daily, crucifying the flesh, stripping off your old nature, and being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, then that means that Jesus is on the throne in your life. You have allowed Him to rule and reign over you. You acknowledge Him as Lord and reverence Him as such. You seek to operate daily as a God-fearing believer!

For those of us who have acknowledged Jesus as our Lord, Solomon tells us that our reverence of God becomes a spring of living water. Other translations call it a fountain of life. Our relationship with our Lord becomes a source of continual renewal and refreshment. We don’t have to face a single day with a stagnant and stale relationship. We know that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:23), and our confidence in God and in His faithfulness towards us enables us to enter every day with our vibrant, powerful, exciting, and purpose-filled relationship intact.

In the latter portion of the text Solomon tells us that this living water empowers to be able to avoid poisoned wells. The New International Reader’s Version of this verse says:

“Respect for the LORD is like a fountain that gives life. It turns you away from the jaws of death.”

The living water (the fountain of life) that we get from the Father, should enable us to steer clear of the jaws of death. It should remind us that we have too much going for us [IN GOD] to get caught up in sin and with satan. Yes, satan will do everything that he can to lead us astray, but when we are drinking from the living water that flows from our relationship with the Father, we are able to resist every temptation, to stay on God’s desired path for our lives, and to enjoy every step of the way!

So what does this mean to you ? It means that your relationship with the Father should be too precious to you for you to dibble and dabble in sin. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted by poisoned wells when you have living water available to you daily. Fear God, reverence Him, give Him the proper position (the throne) in your life, and seek to please Him daily.

The more you drink from His living water the more satisfied you will become with living God’s way and the less susceptible you will be to satan’s tactics.

Father, I openly acknowledge You as the Lord of my life. I am able to say, without any reservation, that Jesus is my Lord! Jesus is on the throne of my life and I am on the cross, dying to self daily. I drink from Your fountain of life. I enjoy Your living water every day. Your living water is so satisfying and refreshing to me that I am able to resist every temptation of the enemy. I am completely satisfied with You Father, I am committed to You and Your ways, and I refuse to drink from poisoned wells. Give me fresh water this morning Father; water that helps me to enter this day with a spring in my step, a song in my heart, a smile on my face, and a dedication and determination that cannot be shaken! In Jesus’ name. Amen!