Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– J.I. Packer
The Living Water
Getting a drink from this world doesn’t really satisfy because you’ll get thirsty again; but if you drink form the Living Water, your thirst is forever quenched. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). And so He cries out to all the weary, dry, and parched souls, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37); and this drink satisfies forever.
The Bread of Life
Just as with the water, taking this world’s bread leaves you hungering again and never truly satisfies. So why not come to Jesus, Who says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Like the manna in the wilderness only satisfied Israel for a day, so too does this world give in its passing pleasures only fleeting fulfillment. But “the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). When you partake of the Bread of Life, you are forever satisfied.
Our Daily Needs
Jesus doesn’t say it’s wrong to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). In fact, taught His disciples to pray in this way (Matthew 6:9a). So “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing” (Matthew 6:25). “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew 6:26)? Of course you are. Trust God, and pray for your provisions. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Conclusion
If you have received the Bread of Life and drank from the Living Water, trust God for everything else because “the LORD does not let the righteous go hungry” (Proverbs 10:3a). And the psalmist writes, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25). You know that J.I. Packer is right by saying, “You will never need more than He can supply.”
