Thirsty, anyone?

“No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.” — Matthew Henry

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St Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th century monk warned of the danger of becoming channels rather than reservoirs—which, at first seems like a contradiction of God’s purposes for us; however, let us take a second look at this proposition.

Douglas Steere upon reflection makes this observation concerning St. Bernard’s admonition and writes,

We have all too few such reservoirs in the Church at present, though we have channels in plenty. ... Those that desire to pour out when they themselves are not yet filled; they are readier to speak than to listen, eager to teach that which they do not know, and most anxious to exercise authority on others, although they have not learnt to rule themselves. ... Let the reservoir take pattern from the spring; for the spring does not form a stream or spread into a lake until it is brimful.

I like how one modern version broaches the subject in a slightly different way,  

A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? (James 3:10-12 MSG)

The point being in both instances is that you cannot give something that you do not have. We, His disciples, are not conduits but rather resources. Not mirrors but lights. Expressions of God’s love. Examples in the truest sense of the word. Any talking head can expound of the virtues of love all day but only the likes of a Mother Teresa or a Mark Buntain can show us that love.

Let’s not let theology get in the way of this great truth either. Theology is a conduit. Dead, dry. The letter of the Law. None of which can or will feed one hungry child, or cleanse the sores of a single leper. Those dying on the streets of Calcutta, where I worked for so many years—both in and out of the hospital—never asked for a single moment what my or anyone else’s theology was. Love never asks those questions, nor does it insist on conveying it.

God’s love knows no boundaries, nor can you channel it. It simply flows, fills and saturates all that surrounds it. And, once the weary taste it they are refreshed, nourished and eager for more.

Shall we then strive to dig a little deeper, work a little harder, pray a little longer, so that we can become even greater reservoirs of God’s abundant, overflowing love.

There’s a thirsty world out there that longs for just a taste form the reservoir of that living water. One sip, that’s all. 

I am yours for the journey,

Jim R/~ 

P.S. You are a vital part of this ministry and in all honestly we could not—nor would we want to continue—without you. Please continue to pray for and support our ministry in the former Soviet Union and in Southern Asia.