We are constantly amazed by our cats.

For example, they insist on drinking stagnant water from the watering can that my wife keeps on the balcony for her plants!

She does her best to get the cats to drink the filtered water flowing out of the expensive drinking fountains that she buys them. But all to no avail. How discouraging!

Jesus must often feel as discouraged by our behavior as my wife does about the cats.

Jesus tries his very best to get us to stop drinking “stagnant water”. Nevertheless, we continue to drink stagnant water. And we stubbornly refuse to drink the pure, flowing water that the LORD offers to give us for free. (Isaiah 55:1-13).

As Jesus explained to the thirsty Samaritan Woman who came to draw water from the village well, he wanted to give her “living water.” (John 4:10 (emphasis added)).

Jesus assured her that whoever drinks this “living water” will never thirst again. “Indeed, the water [Jesus] gives them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 (emphasis added)).

Subsequently, Jesus made the same promise to all of Israel—and, indeed, to all of Humanity.

He stood up in the Temple in Jerusalem on the last and greatest day of the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles “and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:2,37-38).

The Gospel of John explains: “By this he meant the Spirit [of the LORD], whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:39).

The Scripture that promised rivers of living water isn’t specified. But Jesus likely was thinking about the passage in Chapter 55 of Isaiah where the LORD begs us:

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

   come to the waters. . . .

Come, buy wine and milk

   without money and without cost.”

     (Isaiah 55:1)

How do we accept this gift?

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

   call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

   and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy

  on them,

   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

     (Isaiah 55:6-7).

What will be the result? What will grow from this living water?

“You will go out in joy

   and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

   will burst into song before you,

and the trees of the field

     will clap their hands for you.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

   and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.”

     (Isaiah 55:12-13).

The beginning of each New Year is an excellent time to reflect on whether our lives are stagnating. Growing thornbushes? Growing briers?

The beginning of each New Year is an excellent time to seek the LORD while he may be found. An excellent time to call on the LORD while he is near.

Are we thirsty for a more fruitful life?

Do we want to grow “junipers” instead of “thornbushes”. “Myrtles” instead of “briers”?

Then we must stop drinking “stagnant water”!

We must accept the gift of the “living water” that Jesus freely gives us.

We must resolve that we will forsake any wicked ways and thoughts.

We must resolve to turn to the LORD to find mercy.

We must resolve to fill our lives and all of Humanity with Joy and Peace!

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For additional thoughts inspired by our pets, please read my blogs “Toto Begging for Food”, “The Star of Bethlehem Was a ‘Can of Tuna Fish’”, “I Love You, Gram. Bye!”, and “Eating Too Much Too Quickly”.

For additional thoughts about how mercy and love are gifts—not something we earn, please read my blogs “Love Overcomes Karma” and “Love Overcomes Karma—Jesus”.

The Festival of Tabernacles commemorates how the LORD God faithfully sustained Israel with food and water on their 40-year trek through the desert wilderness to reach the Promised Land. It was therefore a perfect time for Jesus to stand and talk in a loud voice about rivers of living water.