I can't remember which Larry Crabb book it is, but he builds on Jeremiah 2:13. The verse draws a wonderful picture of our best efforts to look after ourselves ("we dug"), and our best efforts to move forward ("cisterns"). But God reminds us that our best efforts are "broken cisterns that can not hold water". Water being life, God-life quenching and satisfying soul-thirst we have been wired to experience. Water imagery connected to God is rich in Scripture. Water pouring over us, through us, watering parched soil, wellspring in us, streams of living water... There is a sense that this water both quenches our thirst and makes it so we are thirsty for more. There are therefore moments where I am drinking God's presence, His promises, His love, etc, because I am so thirsty, "panting". Then there are moments I am not parched as much as the water looks so clean, fresh and tasty. I think I'm in a panting for His life giving water.
The question now I'm asking prayerfully is how can my quenched thirst become a "source of strength" for those I serve? I do realize that my parchedness in this past season has not inspired longing for spiritual oasis. This new season, as I have been therapeutically drinking all I can of His presence, I am praying this creates or stirs longing in my congregation for what or better, Who I am drinking... Who I need to be drinking and who I want to be drinking.
[/i]
ShepherdLeader.com
A safe place for shepherds to reflect together.