Life Purpose
Rev. Sudha Mehta©
In the previous post I wrote about the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus. Her journey to the well ended in her discovery of her own Soul-thirst for water that was supernatural. Water that became in her a well of living water as Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah and the Water-Bearer.
Today, I would like to tell you about how He defined my life’s purpose for me.
I was questioning my purpose in life. While I have known my call as an evangelist/ teacher/ counselor, and my gifts of teaching/counseling etc. for many years, and have worked in them, I still had a hunger to know the purpose for which I was created.
For decades, I have had my life-verse, and have even written a post about it. Thou God Seest Me but my purpose in being . . . this was yet unclear to me. I needed Him to define “me”!
“Water-bearer!” He said.
“. . . What?” I was puzzled.
“Water-bearer!” He repeated.
“What is that?” I asked . . .
“Water-bearer is who and what you are! That is your life purpose!”
Certainly my curiosity was aroused. I checked the word water-bearer in the Bible and didn’t find any. Yet the image of water-carriers I had seen in India came to mind.
Woman carrying water in desert Photo from freeimages.com
This picture speaks volumes to me. The picture was taken in India. In a dry and thirsty land this woman comes bearing water. The footprints in the sand attest to her having walked this path before to the water. She is now returning from the water source with her pot full. The other footsteps tell me others have walked this way as well. She leads a humble life, she is not wealthy, or she would be sitting in shade and send her servant to get the water. Most probably this water is for her family, as it is the job of women to do so in her culture. She is good mother to her daughter for she is training her daughter to work as she sees her mother doing. She has her daughter by the hand which also attests to her love. Living in the desert culture, this has been their history for generations and probably will continue until Jesus comes. As the Samaritan woman, she will return again and again for more water.
I look at her daughter and think “water-bearer in training.” It is my hope to train my children as water-bearers of the Soul-thirst kind. Then perhaps they will train their children likewise, and so on . . . and so on . . .
The Samaritan woman also had come to the well, much like this woman, but she made a discovery of the dry and arid land deep inside her soul. Perhaps you have that same desert in you. It is to that desert I speak today.
When He called me to be a water-bearer, I know He was speaking to much more than offering someone a cup of water.
Jesus stood in a crowded place in Jerusalem:
John 7: 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. 38 He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)(AKJV)
Offering Living water John 7 Photo from Jesusfilm.org
On the Great day of the Feast, this would be the seventh day of the feast of Sukkot, He gave a call. Jerusalem was swollen with people and traditionally this was a special day that included priestly prayer for abundant rain for the crops for the next year.
This is and excerpt from an article from Ray Vander Laan on Joy of Living Water
“There was another special element to the celebration of Sukkot, and it involved living water. Sukkot took place at the end of the dry season. The rains needed to begin immediately to ensure a harvest the following year. Thus the celebration of God’s harvest was coupled with fervent prayer for next year’s rains. . . . The people knew that no rain meant no life. So the priests added a ceremony that included a prayer for rain.”
How appropriate! Picture this! His people praying for rain that completes the life cycle for them, in that rain from heaven brings life to the crops that provides food in abundance for which they thank Elohim by bringing offerings to Him, and pray for more rain . . . ! How fitting that The Creator Himself appears on the scene and offers them water from Heaven (the Holy Spirit) to satiate a deeper Soul-thirst!
Just as He offered the Samaritan woman, Jesus now offers to this crowd water that would quench Soul-thirst. The water He offers is His own Holy Spirit. I find it interesting that He offers an invitation, and a choice. It is not an either-or choice, but a one-or-both choice! They can have both if they so choose, as their God He supplies the rain anyway.
My friends, it is always a choice. Then and now! God never forces anything upon us, ever. Accept or reject His gospel, it is your choice. Even then, it became clear not many took Him up on His offer.
How sad!
Then I thought more on this and remembered reading about water-bearers carrying water in goatskins for weary people in the marketplace in old times. Just a drink to quench the thirst of someone on a hot day. It was menial and exhausting work. A position of humility. A place of a servant. I read that in times past men who were training for the priesthood of different religions would learn humility this way.
Even today, in places in India, and I am sure in some other countries as well, this practice continues.
Water bearer Photo by hindustantimes.com
It is certainly a lesson in humility.
Jesus said:
Mark 9:41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.(BSB)
A simple cup of water given in His name brings a reward to the water-bearer. It doesn’t require much.
Hebrews 6: 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.(BSB)
I have lived in a culture where servants serve water when called to do so. It is their job. If you want a glass of water, you just call a servant to bring it. While I no longer live in that culture, it still continues on there and in many countries. The point is this: It is the servant’s job. Well . . . the Lord said it is my job as His servant. The servants life is a humble one, and He calls me to walk before Him with humility.
Pride has no place before Him.
Jesus said:
Matthew 23: 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.(BSB)
The Word also says:
1 Peter 5: 5b And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.(BSB)
The best part is that Jesus modeled that humility for His disciples. At His last Passover Meal with the disciples on the night that He was betrayed, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as a way of demonstrating humility:
Jesus washing feet Photo from jorgeschulz.wordpress.com
John 13: 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.(BSB)
I want to be like Him. I hope you do too!
Here is another thought: Without water you die. The average person can live only three days without water. Conditions vary the time, but only worsen it. Athletes out exercising can die within hours. Children or animals left in a hot car, much less. So, before you reject the job of a water-carrier as menial and unworthy of great respect, just remember . . . your life depends on what he carries!!
And . . . when I come knocking in His Name, please remember . . . I too am just a water-bearer bringing you a Soul-thirst quenching drink! Are you thirsty???!!!
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