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Change Requires a Filter

Writer's picture: Abigail PettyAbigail Petty



It was an August afternoon with a foretaste of autumn. The perfect breeze filled the air, and I was going to do everything in my power to enjoy it. Per usual, I was in a rush as I walked out the door. I snatched all my necessities, but my flow was interrupted by the reveal of my nearly empty water bottle. No one can afford dehydration in this economy, so off to the kitchen I went. Filling my water bottle is always a dilemma. This 40-ounce Stanley cup is like an ocean colored in pink. It guzzles the Brita pitcher, and this time it only left a sip’s worth. 


Now, I must admit my fatal flaw. I, Abigail Petty, will never choose to refill the Brita pitcher. Since I am usually in a rush, my mind tells me that skipping the refill is sure to get me to my location faster. This ridiculous system is one I have used for years. It gets me out the door faster, and it fills my needs. Well, it fills my needs until I take a spicy bite at dinner and realize there is no filtered water. In these moments of sriracha emergency, I must submit myself to the less than perfect Virginia tap water. The water satisfies me temporarily, but it does not taste as good as I know it could be. Filtered, pure water is obviously a better choice, but it takes time to filter out impurities. Not many people are willing to wait.  


In John 4, there was a Samaritan woman quite like me--impatient, and always running out the door. She had been through five failed marriages and was in need of a change. As always, Jesus speaks to a moment of need. On this specific day, the woman met Jesus while gathering water from a well. She had no idea she would exchange a mundane chore for a miraculous appointment. Jesus spoke to her about her life. However, He soon mentioned something she had never heard before. Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never thirst again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” This water was more than a beverage; it would change everything.


So, the woman had to make a choice.  The well water was easy and convenient. It satisfied her basic needs. While it may have filled her, it wasn’t nourishing her. The murky water trickled into the cracks of her broken spirit, only to escape and require another trip to the well tomorrow. Jesus was offering her nourishment and change. He can filter out all impurities, but we must be willing.  

  1. We must be thirsty. (John 4:15) 

  2. We must throw away old patterns. (John 4:28) 

  3. We must thank God for His truth. (John 4:29) 


John 4:27-28  

“Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 

 

Come and see what the Lord can do in your life. He will give you living water, but you must understand that change requires a filter.  

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