We are living in a time of history where people are obsessed with negative narratives ranging from politics, masks, stay at home orders, social injustices, and conspiracy theories. The high schoolers I work with here at Red Door frequently share about how their campus is no longer a safe place for counter culture opinions to be shared.
Maybe you are living listening to these negative narratives and find yourself fearful, or going through the day with a low graded pissed feeling.
God’s people were on their way out of captivity and on their way to the promised land when they ran out of water. Their water shortage was a legit life and death struggle, not some TP shortage. I’m not sure who started it but their negativity spread quickly like a destructive California wildfire. When they finally arrived at a large pool of water with their bitter hearts they found they couldn’t drink the water for it too was bitter.
The water that was meant to refresh and give life had lost its value. Exodus 15: 24 records, “and the people complained to Moses, “So what are we supposed to drink?”
Fortunately, Moses did not surrender to the rage and bitterness that had consumed the others. Vs 25 says, “So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”
A TREE MADE THE BITTER WATER SWEET? I believe that the miracle-working tree was a foreshadow of another tree where Christ died in our place to reverse the curse and TURN that which was bitter back into something sweet.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.” Jesus became our oasis with living water by rewriting the negative script to go above politics, race, illness, gender, and centered on grace and love. That sounds essential for our survival.
It is time to toss a tree into those pools of bitter water you frequent. Take a break from the latest covid update or breaking news reports and drink from the sweet living water of Jesus, and there is no better place to do this than at CBC! We are essential, open, and waiting for you.
