What Kind of Water Flows From Your Fountain?

Posted by Stephan and Mary Calhoun on Oct 14, 2011 in Daily Bread | 1 comment

After returning from the mission field last year, our family discovered those cool new (for us at least) Coke fountains that allow you to select extra flavors to mix and match with your favorite soda drink. Naturally, the little boy in me wanted to try all the flavors at once and see what the end result would taste like. The possibilities are endless, yet no matter how many flavors we inject, there is only one end product.

Today’s verse in the NASB reads: “Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?” If we are the fountain that James refers to in this passage, what kind of “water” are we producing in our lives? Is it life-giving or death-inducing?

If we can’t produce both kinds of water in our lives, then how do we change our end product? I think there are two other verses that give us insight into this question. Matthew 15:18 says “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart. . .” and Proverbs 4:23 warns: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”

So if our heart is the source of our “fountain”, what are you putting (or allowing to be put) into your heart that eventually flows out? For instance, if you allow un-forgiveness to dwell in your heart, you will have difficulty sharing God’s grace to those around you.

Let us flavor our hearts with forgiveness, peace, joy, hope, and love from the Father, so that we may be fountains of fresh water in a bitter world.