Embracing The Living Water In This New Year

  Embracing The Living Water In This New Year

 I’m Rev. Jay Stuart Glover, welcome to Faith Talk. As we step into this new year, I’d like to share a reflection that will challenge and inspire us to respond faithfully to God’s invitation towards restoration. 

Let’s begin by considering two profound passages of Scripture:

Jeremiah 2:13:

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

John 7:38:

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

These verses present a powerful metaphor—water—that runs throughout the Bible, symbolizing God’s presence, spiritual nourishment, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s explore these metaphors and what they mean for us today.

Forsaking the Living Water (Jeremiah 2:13)

In Jeremiah, God laments the state of His people. He delivered them from slavery, guided them through the wilderness, and brought them into the promised land. Yet, despite His faithfulness, they turned away from Him. They abandoned God, the spring of living water, and instead sought fulfillment in idols and practices that were far removed from the covenant relationship He had established with them.

The metaphor of "broken cisterns" is striking. The people had tried to find meaning and satisfaction apart from God. They “dug their own cisterns”—Metaphorically that is, they sought their own way, relying on their own efforts rather than trusting in God’s provision. But these cisterns were broken, incapable of holding water. It’s like trying to fill a bucket full of holes—it will always leak and leave you thirsty.

For us today, these broken cisterns represent our own attempts to find fulfillment in things like success, relationships, possessions,  self-reliance and even poor theologies. No matter how much we pour into them, they never satisfy. In the end, we find ourselves empty and unsatisfied.

God’s message in Jeremiah is clear: true life, peace, and purpose are found only in Him. Everything else will ultimately leave us wanting more.

The Fulfillment of the Living Water (John 7:38)

In contrast to the emptiness of the broken cisterns, John 7:38 offers a promise of hope and fulfillment. At the Feast of Tabernacles, during a ceremony that symbolized God’s provision of water in the wilderness, Jesus stands and declares that anyone who believes in Him will have "rivers of living water" flowing from within them.

This isn’t just a metaphor for initial salvation—it’s about an ongoing, continuous work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Jesus speaks of an abundant, unending source of spiritual nourishment that transforms us from the inside out. 

When we place our trust in Christ, His Spirit dwells within us, empowering us to become vessels of His life, grace, and truth. This living water is not just a future promise; it’s something we can experience in the here and now. Unlike the broken cisterns, the rivers of living water are abundant and unquenchable, available to all who come to God.

From Broken Cisterns to Flowing Rivers

The journey from the broken cisterns in Jeremiah to the flowing rivers in John mirrors the heart of the Christian faith. The search for fulfillment in fleeting, empty things gives way to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through Christ, we are moved from emptiness to fullness, from brokenness to wholeness.

The Impact of the Living Water

The image of living water also reminds us of God’s abundant provision. Unlike the broken cisterns, the river of living water is ever-flowing and never runs dry. This is the nature of God’s grace: constant, unshakable, and available to everyone who seeks it.

We are living in a troubled world dominated by political confusion, violence, and suffering. As believers, we are called not only to receive this living water but to allow it to flow through us—transforming the world around us.

Just as a river shapes the land it passes through, God’s Spirit within us can empower us to shape the communities we inhabit. In times of division and unrest, we are called to be vessels of love, mercy, and justice, bringing peace and healing wherever we go. The rivers of living water should flow out from us, making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us.

A Call to Action

 As we embark on this new year, let’s ask ourselves: Are we still relying on broken cisterns—our own efforts, self-reliance, or worldly pursuits—to satisfy us? Or have we turned to the living water offered through Christ?

My prayer today is that we allow the Holy Spirit within us flow freely, transforming us and impacting the world around us. Let’s become vessels of God’s grace, bringing His love and truth wherever we go.

Thank you for joining me on Faith Talk today. Whether you’re listening from Europe, Asia, Africa, or the Americas, we are grateful to have a global audience of believers seeking the living water that only God can provide. If you’d like to get involved in an upcoming episode or connect with us, please visit our website at www.revjaystuartglover.com. Share this message with your friends and family.

May God bless you richly in this new year. Amen.