God created us with a deep spiritual hunger and thirst—a longing that cannot be ignored or bypassed. This was not a mistake or a flaw, but a deliberate design meant to drive us to Christ Himself. If this thirst is not satisfied by the living water that is Christ, we will inevitably seek satisfaction elsewhere, chasing after lesser things that can never truly fill us. The result is not neutral: to neglect Christ as our satisfaction is to remain restless, unsatisfied, and exposed to every counterfeit.
Christ: The Only Satisfying Water
Scripture is clear: Christ is the living water, the rock that was struck so that we might drink and be satisfied. There is no substitute. All attempts to quench our thirst apart from Him are doomed to fail. When we come to Him, our spiritual thirst is truly met—this is not a one-time event, but a continual supply. The satisfaction He gives is the only foundation for real joy and peace.
Do not let anyone call you rebellious or accuse you of being in sin simply because you wrestle with desires. Struggling inwardly, while refusing to walk in proud, outward sin, is not rebellion. It is not grounds for condemnation. To heap guilt and accusation on those who struggle is not only unnecessary, it is a denial of the gospel’s provision. Condemnation does not produce holiness; it only deepens the wound.
The Good Samaritan: Christ’s Ministry to the Wounded
We are not left to heal ourselves. Christ, the true Good Samaritan, finds us as wounded sheep, beaten down by the journey. He does not pass by or demand that we fix ourselves. Instead, He pours in the oil and wine—His own life—into our wounds. He nourishes, strengthens, and carries us. This is not a one-time rescue; He brings us into His care, sustaining us daily. To reject this ministry is to reject the very means by which God intends to heal and strengthen His people.
Walking in the Spirit: The Only Path to Joy and Peace
What does it mean to walk according to the Spirit? It is not a call to religious striving or self-improvement. It is to be filled with the Spirit by continually drinking of Christ, the living water. This is a daily necessity, not a spiritual luxury. Every day, we need to drink of Him afresh. God Himself is faithful to remind us of this—He has given us a High Priest who intercedes for us in our weakness. In every moment of need, Christ stands as our advocate and supply.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
When we walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is present—not as a product of our effort, but as the natural result of Christ’s life within us. There is no law against this life, because it is not produced by law. Thanksgiving fills our hearts. Christ makes His home in us. We are sanctified, set apart by His presence, and ready to give an answer for the hope we possess. This is the ground of true joy and peace.
What Is Lost If We Accept the Error
If we accept the error that satisfaction can be found apart from Christ, or that condemnation is a legitimate tool for dealing with struggling believers, we lose everything essential to the Christian life. We forfeit the joy and peace that only come from Christ’s continual supply. We undermine the finished work of Christ, treating His intercession and His Spirit as optional rather than necessary. Most dangerously, we place ourselves and others back under the yoke of law and self-effort, which can only produce frustration and defeat.
There is no other way: only Christ satisfies. Only His Spirit produces fruit. Only His intercession sustains us. To turn elsewhere is to abandon the inheritance of sonship and the reality of justification. Let no one rob you of this joy and peace by substituting condemnation or self-effort for the living water that is Christ.
