We All Need a Drink

Driving down the road, seeing the beggar with the sign; “Why lie? I need a drink” evoked two immediate responses. One was appreciate the honesty, and two was ignore it.

The beggar’s sign came to mind as we discussed writing our year-end letter. Suddenly the Word of God revealed the truth of the sign through Jesus’ story of the woman at the well. We all need a drink.

In John 19:13 Jesus said, "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."

We are mere beggars, ushered to the throne and securing a mansion in heaven through grace by faith in Jesus alone. Many of us don’t want to present ourselves this way. Instead of the flawed, beat up beggar dependent upon Christ alone, we project a successful image – whether in our family, career or ministry.

Having just completed Thanksgiving, we are reminded it is good to count our blessings. But do we recount our blessings with the emphasis on us (the receiver) or God (the Giver)?

We resolve to embrace our helpless state and our need for a drink from Jesus. This is the way for eternal fruit in ministry, as Jesus says in John 7:37-38: "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." The most amazing feeling we have all experienced is for streams of living water to flow from within us onto others! In The Rock, we see it overflowing into and out of the lives of the Africans we serve.

Through the Rock, God has accomplished much this year with your gifts. We have poured it all out. Like the story of the widow who used her last flour and oil to prepare a meal for the Prophet Elijah, our cup is empty. We don’t know who God will use to fill it. We trust He will use people like you to fill it again just as God filled the widow’s cup repeatedly. Then we will empty it in His service and become mere beggars again.

Why lie? We all need an eternal drink. If God desires streams of living water to flow from you by standing with your brothers and sisters in Africa through supporting our ministry with The Rock, please embrace the blessing.

Merry Christmas!

Mark and Margaret