Today’s Scripture: Hosea 12-14
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. – Galatians 2:20
Hosea 13:15 presents a prophecy of judgment against the nation of Israel: “An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.”
Here is a picture of someone whose inner source of life and power has dried up. His life was once a blessing to those around him but has now become a curse. As I studied this passage, I was reminded of a man I knew well.
His testimony for Christ shone brightly against the dark background of the people among whom he worked–people whose lives had been ruined by drugs, alcohol, and sin of every description. This man was instrumental in leading many of these people to Christ and seeing them begin new lives. But his inner spring dried up. He left his wife and children, and dismissed his actions by saying that the love was gone and his marriage was no longer working. What happened was not a reaction to outward pressure or tragedy. It was an inward spiritual drought, brought on by his lack of daily personal fellowship with Christ.
In John 7:37-38, Jesus said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” And then John unlocks the mystery of Jesus’ words. By this, John said, Jesus meant the Spirit.
The secret to a life that fulfills us and refreshes others is to live under the daily control of the Holy Spirit. Then our spring will never fail, and our well will not dry up.
Prayer
Lord, may Your sweet, refreshing Spirit fill me and cause a stream of living water to flow from my life. Amen.
To Ponder
Is the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life a trickle or a stream?
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