Deeper Life #215

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

—John 4:14

RAIN COMES FROM HEAVEN, BUT it does not return. The Word of God comes from heaven, but it does not return in the same form.

The Word of God (to change the figure) comes like seed. Our Lord Jesus Christ planted the seed thought of truth and then left it to develop. No one can be the same after hearing the Word of God. He may object to it; he may revolt against it; but God has given that person a standard of conduct whereby he will judge himself in his best moments.

Jesus Christ preached His greatest discourses to the smallest audiences. His great discourse on the fountain of water, springing up within us unto eternal life, was given to a lone woman at the well of Samaria. He knew that the planting of that seed with one person would lead to a great harvest.

Seed evangelism is an idea that we modern preachers should adopt. So many of us suppose that we have to plow the field, sow the seed, reap the grain, bind it into sheaves, put it through the threshing machine, and make bread of it—all in one discourse. When we get back to the evangelistic method of the New Testament, we find that one may sow and another reap.

Let every Christian remain true to the calling God has given him.

Prayer Thought: Enable me, O God, to remain faithful to my calling.

SUGGESTED READING: John 4:7–26