The Clio messenger., 1921-04-14

lee, in order 10
avoid the hated
Samaritans, but He must needs go
through Samaria' in order TO be
where we find Him now for the meet
ing with this poor sinner, whose wax
ing into life is story that has
awakened so many others. At Sy-
char, which means purchased" near
10 the parcel of ground that jacob
gave TO his son Joseph" with its over
flowing fountain-how fitting place
In which To tell of another purchase
and another gift, and of living water,
free TO all who will receive!
At this noon hour there comes an
other, alone, because of what she IS
that cuts her off from the society OF
ether women whose custom it is to
come in the cool of the evening for
water.
"Gve me To drink" is His way OF
beginning His great work of salvation.
In this gospel of deep meanings they
go deeper than the printed lines: she,
n sinner in her sins, is TO refresh the
Savior Little does she know ii yet,
but He does "Give me to drink J"
Oh, soul, whose eyes fall upon these
words. this is what you can do for
Him still, by simply allowing His won
drous grace To have its wondrOus
way.
Blinded alike to her need and to
His glory, she refuses this, only to be
xrif 10
gift Of God" and Giving water" that
He would give to her, and that, bu,
for her ignorance about Him, she
would have asked Him for-living wa.
ter Of which, If one drinks, he shall
never thirst again forever, for it is
eternal life.
Oh, what is this? Can this sinful,
craving heart of mine be satisfied?
Yes, and more than satisfied. And
millions of rejoicing witnesses there
are to the truth Of the Savior's words
millions of craving hearts that
now, no longer craving but satisfied,
have become channels to all around
because they have received this living
water that He alone can give.
And now, beginning through His
wonderful words to know Him,
though only half grasping His mean
ing, and thinking still Of bodily thirst.
she cries, "Sir, give me this water"
And she shall have ii, and the Sa-
vior have His meat and His drink, but
first there is another work TO do. The
sinner must be disclosed TO himself
before he can see the Savior, and TO
this one the Lord now proceeds. But
how gently and how kindly, not at
tacking her, not scolding or upbraid-
ing, but as though He would but have
water that He is to give, He says. "Go.
call thy husband"
She is in the presence of the Savior
and finds that He knows all about
her, knew it when He first spoke to
her.
II have no husband" "True," he
says, "but thou hast had five, and the
one thou hast is not thy husband"
And she owns that the word Of God
has done it's work in her soul, for she
owns Him as prophet-one who
speaks the word Of God. a prophet!
Then He can tell her about worship,
the overfull hearts expression to God
of its JOY. And He does. And now,
revealed by His words, she cries out
the name of that One for whose com.
ing she has waited, Messiah, called
Christ, can 1t be that He has comet -
Her need thus fully disclosed, He
can reveal Himself as the One who has
come from Heaven to meet that need.
II that speak unto thee am He."
Forgetting now, in her Joy. the
thirst that has brought her here, she
leaves her pitcher at the well and.
rushing back TO the village, rouses
the whole population with her glad
testimony to Him. 1t is always so
with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation"
Let the sinner but find himself in his
sins face to face with Jesus Christ
who discovers Himself as the only Sa-
vior, and he cannot keep back the
gladness that rises In his soul.
And IL the poor forgiven sinners
heart is full, the SavIor's is no less So
The disciples return with the food
they had gone to buy and offer IL to
Him. But it is refused II have meat
to eat that We know not Of" JOY will
not let one eat any more than sorrow
And such JOY Is His The Shepherd
has found His sheep and In the very
gladness OF II cannot partake Of His
necessary food.
Cuch Is His 10y over you and mo