LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Wednesday 28th May 2025
THE GIFT OF GOD
Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42
Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10
At the beginning of their conversation, Jesus asked for water from the Samaritan woman. Now, Jesus told the woman that she should be asking for more than natural water. He took the conversation to a higher plane by speaking of God’s gift and asking the woman to seek “living water.”
Had the woman been aware of who Jesus was, the asking would have been the other way around. The woman was drawing water from Jacob’s well, which was probably about 1,800 years old at the time. The water from the well was generally still and stale. Yet she questioned why He was asking her for water.
Jesus drew her attention to the fact that he was asking for an exchange. What Jesus offered her was water that was flowing, bubbly and fresh. Jesus gives us more than what He asks of us. He offers us better quality than what He asks from us. Whenever God says we should give Him something, it is because He wants to give us something in return that is far better or superior.
This is what the salvation message is all about. God asks us to give Him our lives that are often troubled, confused, battered and unfulfilled. When we surrender to Him, He gives us in return a better life in Christ; one that is effervescent, fulfilling and what Christ calls the abundant life.
Whenever God makes a demand on us, we must first consider His nature. When we know who He is, we can willingly give to Him, knowing that we can never out-give Him.
To receive the life that Christ offers us, we need to give up our old lives. Our lives without Christ are like the stale water in the well. What Jesus offers us is a brand-new life in Him. Are you ready to exchange what you have for what Jesus gives?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open the hearts of people everywhere to your gift of salvation. Give our world a thirst for God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
