Water is something we often take for granted in Western countries. It is always there. Even in times of drought, all we have to do is turn on the tap. But without a consistent flow of water nurturing the plant, it doesn’t take very long at all for the plant to wither.

The Bible gives an illustration of this in Psalm 1:2-3, one that is used repeatedly. It compares the righteous to trees planted by the river of water, whose “leaves stay green” and who “never stop bearing fruit.”

Sometimes as Christians, we get complacent. Since we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), we can get comfortable with where we are spiritually and maybe take for granted just how much our #salvation cost, how high a price was paid (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23).

We dabble with things that maybe we shouldn’t. We get lazy about our relationship with God. We put things in a higher priority than Him and we begin to drift away. Before we know it, our spiritual lives are dry and lifeless and it is difficult to even remember what our walk with God used to be like.

We are in the middle of a heat wave. Lawns across town are getting dry and browned, but these plants are green and vibrant because they are in the right position . . . they are right on top of a water source.

We need to be like these plants and stay right next to the living water.