Read an Excerpt
Treasures of the Transformed Life
Satisfying Your Soul's Thirst for More
By John Ed Mathison Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2006 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-2918-8
CHAPTER 1
the need for more
The next time you're in a restaurant, pay attention to whether the server brings you a glass of water. It used to be that it was standard. You sat down, you got a glass of water, and the server would ask if you'd like anything else to drink.
You'll probably still see two glasses on the table at more formal places, one for water and one for something else; in most restaurants, though, it seems to be either or. There are so many other choices on the menu. You can have a soft drink, lemonade, tea, maybe even fruit tea, coffee, you name it. There are all sorts of ways to satisfy your thirst.
Now, we all know that nothing is quite as good for us as pure water. It helps the body better do its job. It helps wash the junk out, it helps maintain peace in the body's functions, and it makes sure all the essential nutrients get to where they're supposed to go. That's why doctors tell us to drink so much of it every day.
But you know how it is. Sometimes you look at that glass and think, Nothing special about that. Sometimes it looks plain. Ordinary. You begin to think about how much you'd rather have something else. Something that looks really good and tasty.
We can keep our eyes on the things that look good and tasty on the outside. We can try to satisfy our thirst with coffee, soft drinks, maybe even beer or wine. But all the while, something deep within us is still crying out for the real deal—good, pure water. Nothing will feel right until we get it.
That doesn't just apply to what we drink. Sometimes we can get thirsty in life, too. Sometimes we begin wondering if there's really more to it. If it's really possible to be happier, more content, more satisfied.... Ever been there?
the thirst within
Psychologists tell us that most people in America today are unsatisfied. They don't like their jobs. They don't like where they live. Or others don't like the weather. They don't like their health. In general, they just don't like their lives. They may feel that things are okay as they are. Maybe they don't know anyone who's happier, less stressed, or less busy; so they figure that's just how life is supposed to be. Yet, they don't think anything can change. Someone asks them—or us—how things are, and we reply, "Fine"—even if everything really isn't and we want more out of our days on this earth.
Consider this story about a little girl who sat down to eat her lunch. There was a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk on the table, but she didn't touch any of it. About two hours later, she went to her mother and said, "I don't feel good." The mother asked what was wrong, and she replied, "I've got a stomachache."
At that point, the mother looked over and noticed that the sandwich and the glass of milk were still sitting there. So she said, "Honey, your stomach hurts because it's empty. You need to put something in it. Eat your lunch and you'll feel better."
About that time, the preacher stopped by the house to discuss some church business. As they were talking, he said, "You know, I've had a headache all day long." The little girl looked at him and said, "I know why. It's because your head's empty. If you put something in it, it wouldn't be so bad."
Do you know when the great pain in life comes? It comes when we're empty. It might not be our stomachs or our heads, but it might be our hearts. If your heart and life are empty, that's the worst kind of pain there is.
We get to this point in different ways. Sometimes we come up empty because we realize that we have a thirst deep down inside, but we try to satisfy it with other people, jobs, material things, nice houses and cars, or relationships. They all look good for a while, but that kind of fulfillment never really lasts. It's kind of like drinking a big cup of coffee. It warms us for a while, and the caffeine might even boost our spirits and make us feel pretty good. Sooner or later, however, that all wears off, and we're back in search of another cup.
None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.
—Benjamin Whichcote
Sometimes we come up empty because we've been disappointed. Maybe we're burned out. Maybe we've developed a "been there, done that" mentality, and talked ourselves into believing that the way things are is as good as they'll ever get. Perhaps we just don't know any better. Nobody ever told us the truth about life, so we think our happiness depends entirely upon us, according to what we can accomplish.
If you've ever felt that way, I've got some good news for you. There really is more, and it's ours for the asking. It really is possible to live a full life, one in which you look forward to waking up each morning, one full of joy, faith, and strength.
delusions of self-sufficiency
I once read a story about a lady who went to work at a large mill, where her job was to sew. On her first day, the foreman said, "The most important thing you need to know is this: If your threads get tangled, call me and I'll fix them." He then pointed to a sign on the wall. There, right in front of her, was a reminder: "If your threads get tangled, call the foreman."
The lady sat down and began to sew. Eventually, her threads started to tangle. She thought, I won't bother the foreman; he's too busy. I'll do it myself. She tried to untangle the threads, but they just became more and more tangled. Before long, she really had a mess on her hands.
The foreman came by and said, "You didn't do what you were told, did you?"
She replied, "No. I wanted to do it myself." Then she added, "I want you to know that I did the best that I could."
The foreman responded, "No, you didn't. If you had done the best that you could, you would have called me."
Isn't that what's wrong with life most of the time? I know so many who are doing the best they can, but life is still getting all tangled up. And all they have to do—all any of us have to do— is call on the One who made our lives, who made the thread, the One who knows how to untangle it and put it all back together into something beautiful.
drink deeply
This is where it all comes together. The life that God has for us, the one he really intends for us to live, is a lot like that glass of water we talked about a moment ago. It's refreshing, it's good for us, and it satisfies our thirst in a way that absolutely nothing else can. But it's something we have to take in often, and we've got to drink it down deep.
Scientists have discovered that by the time we actually recognize we're thirsty, we've already begun down the path of dehydration. Many of us only drink a glass of water occasionally. As a result, we really only take in enough water to quench a dry throat, but never enough to recover all the water we've lost. We know we need something, but we can't quite put our fingers on it. Doctors have found that many times when we think we're hungry and go looking for food, we're actually just thirsty and don't know how to recognize our need.
The same principle applies to our relationship with God. We can get so caught up in life that we only talk to him occasionally. We often become so accustomed to our constant state of spiritual dehydration that we don't even know what we're thirsty for any more.
God is not what you imagine or what you think you understand. If you understand you have failed.
—St. Augustine
And yet, the Bible urges us to seek God. Isaiah 55:6 says, "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near." We are to seek—to intentionally devote all of our time, energy, and effort into going after God.
Consider this: Do you seek God? When you have a decision to make, do you seek his advice? When you need comfort, do you seek his presence?
That's where the abundant life is found. When we're willing to believe that there really is more to this life—and that God is the only One who can provide the way—all sorts of things begin to happen. He opens his arms to us and welcomes us as friends. He helps us forget the things in our past that we'd rather not remember. He takes all those threads we've managed to tangle up and begins weaving them together into a tapestry that we couldn't previously imagine.
satisfaction guaranteed
During the course of this study, we're going to take a closer look at the process of seeking God. Basically, we're giving a promise, and it works like this: If you give God more of yourself, he will give you more of himself. Along with this comes that sense of satisfaction, that overflowing abundance of joy and peace.
A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.
—Author Unknown
We'll look at what it really means to pray, and ways to make your prayer life rich, rewarding, and exciting. We'll talk about finding your place in the Body of Christ, and how to know that you're doing the things that you alone were created to do.
We're going to talk about building a relationship with the One who created you, and making sure that you're well positioned to receive everything that he has to offer.
This all begins with a recognition of thirst—even if you don't think you're thirsty—and a willingness to satisfy it in the only way that will last: With the pure goodness of being fully hydrated, and the understanding of where living water comes from.
So go ahead and raise your glass. It doesn't matter if you see it as half full or half empty— just as long as you see it.
dive in
For what am I thirsty?
In what ways do I try to satisfy that thirst?
How could God help?
CHAPTER 2
God really does care
It was high noon, and the woman was at the well alone. Theologians would tell us that she picked the time out of shame, knowing that she could avoid the stares and comments from the other disapproving women, the ones who knew she'd been married five times.
But that may not be the case. The woman wasn't one who was thirsty without realizing it. No, she very much needed a drink. She needed it so much that she was there in the heat of the day, when most others would have been resting out of the midday sun. She did what she thought she had to do.
We find this woman's compelling story in John 4:1–18. She encountered Jesus at the well, and he offered her living water—an opportunity to refresh her soul, receive cleansing from past sins, and bring to life places that she long felt were dead.
Sometimes this story is recounted with an emphasis on the fact that the woman was a Samaritan and that Jesus was a Jew. As such, Jesus crossed traditional boundaries to reach out to her. Society well understood that Samaritans and Jews just didn't associate with each other.
If we stop there, we miss a richness that goes beyond the idea that Jesus simply loves everyone, regardless of gender, race, or background. We miss the idea that he met the woman right where she was. He actually went out of his way to meet her there in order to satisfy her thirst.
The woman could very well have been waiting for this opportunity. She probably wasn't just looking for a cup of cool water. She was also hoping for someone who would understand, someone who wouldn't judge her, someone who would be able to see beyond the things of which she wasn't proud to the person she knew she really could be.
searching souls
We've all been there. We were created with a thirst to be more than we are and more than the world thinks of us. We were created to live rich lives full of meaning and fulfillment. Perhaps we're not there yet. If we choose to be, however, we can get a little closer every day.
Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees.
—John Wesley
Many of us have become complacent, maybe even bored, with the idea of living a life that glorifies God. Some may not even realize that their lives can be more satisfying with God. And there are also many like the Samaritan woman who are really thirsty. They may not have done the same things she had, but they're still going to the well, day after day, looking for something that will satisfy. Some may even be going the difficult way, carrying their shame just as she did, trying to avoid anyone who might judge them for wanting more, anyone who might talk about what they deserve.
Thank goodness for a little thing called grace. God extends that grace to us, no matter who we are, no matter what we've done. All we have to do is approach the well expectantly, and there he is, waiting to give us that stuff he calls "living water."
This living water comes through faith in Jesus. If you are thirsty, but have not yet hooked up to the everlasting spring, refer to the appendix (page 311), where will you find an explanation of how you can invite God's living water into your life.
a key element
The Bible has a lot of references to water. Consider, for instance, the parting of the Red Sea, a showing of God's power, strength, and willingness to protect his people; the floods that covered the earth, giving Noah the chance to declare his faith by building a boat when others said he was crazy; the time that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, showing them a true model of humility; and Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine.
But living water is something different. It wells up inside of us when we finally understand that we're not the ones who choose God. No, he's the One who chooses us. Remember, Jesus actually went out of his way to meet the Samaritan woman at the well. John 4:3–4 tells us that, on his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus "had to" pass through Samaria. Jesus could have gone the way most other Jews would have, crossing the Jordan. But he didn't. He already knew that someone in Samaria needed what only he could give. He chose to make himself available.
That is how God operates. He makes himself available to meet us wherever we are. This is plainly stated in Isaiah 43:2–5.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.... Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
taking the plunge
To really understand the concept of living water, it must be understood that the One who made you, God himself, is absolutely committed to you. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5 that he is the vine and we're the branches. As such, we will wither up and die without the life force, the living water, flowing directly from Jesus to us.
God created you to need that water, and to need him. You just have to go to the well to drink. There's nothing that God can't accomplish through a person who is connected to him. But understand this: It takes faith to get there, and it might not be faith in the way you currently understand it.
Author, philosopher, and theologian Elton Trueblood says that, "Faith is closer to courage than it is to intellectual assent," or belief. You just have to put your eyes on Jesus and trust that he'll get you where you need to go. We tend to think that faith is something you only believe with your mind. Trueblood points out that faith is also acting with your body. Some people believe something without ever actually doing anything about it. It takes courage to act on your beliefs.
Consider Peter in the boat with the other disciples. As the story goes in Matthew 14:22–36, he looked up to see Jesus coming across the lake to meet them. Jesus simply walked on the water to get to where they were. The disciples couldn't believe their eyes.
Peter did a bold thing: He decided to put Jesus to the test. Seeing Jesus approach, he said, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."
Jesus replied, "Come." When we try to put Jesus to the test, he often has a way of turning it around so we're the ones being tested. He gave Peter an invitation to take a risk, but the responsibility fell to Peter to make it happen.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Treasures of the Transformed Life by John Ed Mathison. Copyright © 2006 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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