“Thirsting For Refreshment”

Introduction: Many years ago, my wife and only child at the time, took a vacation in Michigan. We went to the Traverse City area and camped. While we were there we took a short excursion to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Maybe you have heard of them. They are immense hills of sand that line the coast of Lake Michigan. Upon arrival at the dunes we checked into the visitor center. We found out that there was a two-mile trail through the dunes that led to the shoreline of lake Michigan. We all thought that that would be fun so off we went. At the beginning of the trail we saw a sign that said, “We recommend that you bring water as you hike this trail.” My wife and I read the sign and decided to ignore its advice. We had just had a refreshing drink so we weren’t that thirsty. We thought, “It’s only a two mile hike, how long could that take?” “Surely there would be a water fountain somewhere along the way.” Besides to get water would mean being in convenienced with going back to get the water, and that would take much to much time. So off we went through the sand dunes, my wife, our five-year-old daughter and myself.

Up one dune then down another we walked one step at a time. At first, it was pretty neat seeing all that sand and the scrub brush growing out of it. It wasn’t long though before we began to sweat, trudging up and down the dunes with the hot sun beating down on us. We began to thirst. It seemed like we hiked for hours. There was no sign of water and no sign of the shoreline. But we didn’t turn back. We kept on going. It wasn’t long and we were parched and desperate for water to quench our thirst. To make matters worse we met people, returning from our goal, jogging past us as they drank from their water bottles. We wanted to take their water from them. We were so thirsty. Our daughter began to cry. We thought, “If we can only make it to the lake we can at least refresh ourselves by jumping in the lake. Then we saw it, with it’s wide expanse of blue water, Lake Michigan. It looked so inviting but there was no way we could get to it. Tall insurmountable cliffs separated us from it. The only water we would find was back where we started.

I. We Need to be Refreshed. As teachers called into the service of the body of Christ you have been called to undertake a journey. It is a noble thing that you have chosen to do – to train and teach children in the ways of the Lord - giving to them the faith that has been given to you. It is an honorable thing to teach children to be productive members of society so that they may love and serve their neighbors. It is noble and it is difficult. When you first started I imagine that you had a joyful enthusiasm about your chosen vocation. I imagine there was a degree of naiveté about what it would take to complete your task. In the process, as you have journeyed, you may not have found it as easy as you had hoped. The overwhelming demands that are laid upon you by the children and their parents may cause you to falter. You may thirst to fulfill even your own expectations. Some days it may feel like you are walking up and down an endless sand dune without a drink of water. You may wonder how you can remain joyful as you refresh the saints around you.

II. We are Refreshed in the Lord. Our Lord Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew who it is who says to you Give me a drink, you would have asked Him and HE would have given you living water.” Who ever drinks of this well water will thirst again, but who ever drinks of the water I shall give him will never thirst. The water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” You have drunk the waters of life. The gift of faith has been given to you. You have been refreshed in the waters of baptism. You have been given the life giving Word of God and the sacrament of the alter to sustain you. Daily meditate on His Word. In it you will be refreshed and you will refresh the people around you as a spring of life giving water.

Conclusion: Your thirst has been quenched and you are able to refresh and encourage the people around you. This is possible because of what our Lord Jesus did on the cross. When He was on the cross our Lord spoke these words, “I thirst”. He became parched with our sins. He took our thirst and gave us life. From His cross the waters of forgiveness flow freely. He invites us to drink from His well. He has made a promise, “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them nor scorching heat.” (Rev 7:16) “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17). Come and be refreshed. Amen.

John 4 1-14

“Thirsting For Refreshment”