Our neighbors in my home town of St. Louis, Missouri had a small pond in their back yard. The pond's only source of water was rainwater, and in the summer it would sometimes become stagnant when there was a dry period. The water then began to smell bad.

"Standing" water is sometimes like that, whether it be a small pond, a swimming pool or something else.

Water is essential for good health — and sustaining our life — as about 70% of our body weight is comprised of water.

We all know that the Bible compares the Holy Spirit to water. Just as physical water is essential for sustaining our physical life, the Holy Spirit implants the seed of eternal life in us (Ephesians 1:13-14).

When God offers us the Holy Spirit, He is not offering us "standing" water, but rather flowing water, i. e., "living" water: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39).

There is no such thing as "standing" Holy Spirit. It moves, it flows from God to us, and it is to flow out from us as it motivates us and empowers us to act. It flows from us when we serve God, praising Him, worshiping Him, and it flows out from us toward our neighbor as we fulfill the 2nd of the 2 great commandments (Matthew 22:36-40).

If we don’t drink enough physical water to replenish the water our body needs, our health will suffer.

If the Holy Spirit is not flowing to and through us, our spiritual well-being will suffer — our attitude. If we notice this happening, we should ask: Have I become a stagnant pond with no fresh water source?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!