WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Think about the different things you like to drink. What is your favourite and why? Living waters Have you ever been spoilt for choice in a coffee shop? Every time I go into one there seem to be new flavours. Caramel latte, macchiato… sometimes I haven’t a clue what the names mean! If I’m honest, I find tea more thirst-quenching. And then of course there’s boring old water with all its health benefits… But how different is the water from the wells of salvation (v 3)! This is a well which will never run dry, and which dispenses pure joy in its living waters. When we drink from this well we will just keep drinking in wonder, going deeper and deeper into God’s love and salvation. For God’s people who have been away from him, this water from the wells of salvation is the best ever. Time to rejoice You can really feel Isaiah’s joy here. At last God has given him some good news to impart. The anger has finally gone away. And, of course, God does not turn his anger away and leave an empty space. He brings comfort and healing (v 1). It isn’t always easy after bad times to immediately rejoice – the scars are still there. But here Isaiah tells the people to really go for it (vs 5,6). When we’re joyful we should want to tell the whole world. Perhaps we need to have a bit more of this joy in our churches, too. Respond: Praise God joyfully for all the blessings he has given you. http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-12-30