Let It Flow

    Photo ©Mark Faulkner 2009

Why is the Dead Sea dead?

Because there is no outlet. No outflow.

For centuries minerals, trash, silt and all manner of unmentionable garbage flowed into the Dead Sea. To this day, the salt content is so high that it is virtually impossible for someone swimming in it to sink.  But fresh rain water also flowed into the Dead Sea.  And yet, it is still dead to this day.

All healthy bodies of water have constant fresh inflow and constant outflow.  Things are continuously moving, flushing out the pond scum and junk. The water is living water.  It cannot stagnate as long as things keep flowing.

How much more are we like a body of water.

For those who are followers of Christ, God's Word says that we have been filled with Rivers of Living Water. And that Living Water was never meant to simply collect in us and not flow freely out. But how often do we hold back the flow and keep it bottled up inside?  How often do we allow an inordinate self-focus to clog up any outlet in our hearts and not let that Living Water flow freely out on others bringing them God's refreshment, love and grace?

When we do not allow God's Living Water to flow freely out of us, things begin to stagnate, and unless we break open the flood gates of hard heartedness, selfishness and self pity, we will eventually become like a dead sea. It's kind of funny that just this week our kitchen sink clogged up and it took a lot of Liquid Plumber to help get things flowing again.  *smile*  I think God has a great sense of humor.

My heart has become pretty clogged up lately because I let the junk of this life and too much self-focus build up and stagnate in me, instead of me reaching out to other people more to encourage them.  The Living Water Christ gives by His Spirit flows into my heart constantly, but if I hold back the flow and close myself off to people in need of His love and mercy, I begin to get pretty stinky.  My heart begins to resemble the Dead Sea.

In John 7:37-38 Jesus said,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

The rivers of living water that Jesus gives are meant to flow out of our hearts.

If you are feeling stagnant today—allow the Spirit of God to break open the flood gates of your heart and let the love and mercy God has given you flow freely out onto others.

Let it flow!

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.