The season of Lent has begun. As we continue our journey toward Easter Sunday on April 12, we are sharing ways you can engage in new ways with Scripture and with those who bring hope to the world.
Here, we share a weekly devotional from World Vision, as they journey through Lent while considering action to help the “least of these” whom Jesus loves.
Week 1
I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
– Matthew 25:35
Read John 4:7-14
Jesus begins his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well by asking for a simple drink of water in the hot midday sun. But then he goes deeper. He tells her that physical water can only quench thirst for a while – but he can offer “living water” that brings eternal life.
Jesus knew the woman needed – as we all do – both physical and spiritual water to live life “to the full” as God intends (John 10:10). Jesus crossed His day’s social boundaries of gender and ethnicity to speak to this woman as an equal and show that her deepest personal and spiritual needs could only be met by God’s Spirit.
Thirst
Today, there are more than 2 billion people in the world who don’t have access to safe drinking water at their homes. For women and girls, this means walking long distances to get water – sometimes in dangerous conditions – for up to six hours a day. The result? Girls have less time for school, which has an impact on their future.
Having access to safe, clean water close to home frees women and children from a life spent gathering dirty water. It restores health and opens doors to education, a promising future, and the full life God intends for them.
Take action
Personal: Make a commitment to drink only water this week. Donate the money you would have spent on other drinks to give others access to clean water.
Local: Think about who could be the “woman at the well” in your community. How could you respond with the gift of living water?
Global: Walk or run World Vision’s Global 6K for Water on May 16!
Pray
Pray that everyone in the world would have access to clean water and come to know Jesus as the source of living water.
Week 2
For I was hungry, and you gave me food.
– Matthew 25:35
Read John 6:5-14
People saw Jesus healing the sick, so they kept following him, hungry to witness more of these miracles. But traveling through the rugged, hot hills left them tired and hungry. Jesus decided to meet both their physical and spiritual hunger.
The story is simple, but amazing: The disciple Andrew introduces a little boy to Jesus, the boy offers his few loaves and fishes, Jesus accepts his offering, and God multiplies it beyond what anyone was expecting. It’s from such small beginnings that the kingdom of God grows and flourishes.
Read the rest of the devotional at World Vision.
