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John 4.1-15

As Jesus comes to the woman and asks for a drink of water, it’s important to remember what water meant to people of ancient times. Living in a dry and arid climate meant that finding a well was life-giving. Jesus tells the woman he has water that will “become [in her] a spring of water welling up to eternal life”—and she doesn’t understand. She asks Jesus for his water so that she’ll never have to return to this well. What she didn’t understand was that Jesus was speaking to the brokenness in her life as she looked to men to give her something only Jesus could.

We’re all searching for something to fulfill a need only God can satisfy like the woman at the well. Some of us look to meet our needs by rebelling or through sex, money or power. Others of us search for satisfaction and worth by following the rules. All of this is idolatry. We will never be fulfilled by anything that comes from the outside. Only by God filling us from the inside can we find true meaning and purpose.

In the book Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller defines an idol as, “…whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’”

Consider the things in your life you look to for value. It may be family, career, sex or money. Finding our value through these things is a way of trying to replace God.

Today, as you spend time in the Chair, take the extra time necessary to identify your idols. Then, pray a prayer of confession and repentance as you begin to understand that your value is in Christ alone.