Are You a River or a Pond?

By Andrea Merrell

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:38 NKJV

“We’re not here for ourselves,” the pastor said, “but to point others to Jesus.”

Then he talked about the “living waters” that are supposed to flow from us. “If you’re not a river, you become nothing more than a spiritual pond,” he said.

Wow, time for a reality check, I thought. Which category do I fit into?

A river flows freely and is teeming with life. It gives to those who need refreshment. A pond, on the other hand, with no inlet or outlet, can become stagnant and full of junk. Not good for much of anything. No life.

Jesus said of His followers, “Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says” (MSG). He was speaking in regard to the Spirit.

Our river—the Holy Spirit inside us—should flow freely and be teeming with life, giving to all who need refreshment. The very life of God that we carry inside should “spill out” on those around us.

Are you a river or a pond? Maybe it’s time for a reality check. 

Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash