Jan 14

The woman at the well stands for all who look for love--and who among us does not? It is a basic human need to be loved, and it is a human tragedy that, like the song says, we so often look for love in all the wrong places.

The woman at the well had had four husbands and was then living with a fifth man at the time Jesus came to her. Jesus knew of her thirst for love, and he told her that whoever came to him would never thirst again. He would give her love that would satisfy her--love that she had never experienced before and which the world could never, in fact, give her because such love is not found in this world but comes down from above. With such love comes peace. Again, it is a peace which this world does not know.

"My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27).

The gift of God's love is unlike all that the world offers in many ways, one of which is the fact that everything the world offers us eventually dies. But God's love lasts forever. And it is a love that is life-transforming. Once we experience this amazing grace and love, it is easy to stop there and be content. God's love, unlike that of the world, is fully satisfying. Why move on?

Those who get stuck at the fourth chapter of John in their relationship with God's love are missing out on the deepest levels of this love. Don't be one of them. Tomorrow's devotion reveals the way to yet deeper depths with God.

Scripture for today: John 4
Thought for today: The well of God's love is deep.
Prayer for today: Lord, I desire to experience the depths of your well of love. Guide me as I seek to know you and your love in greater depth and intimacy. I want to be like your disciple John, who knew your love so deeply. Grant this request, I pray, in Jesus name. Amen.

JAN 14