“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.
On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found…
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.” Proverbs 10:11-13,31
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life.” Proverbs 13:14a
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.” Proverbs 14:27a
“Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it.” Proverbs 16:22a
“The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.” Proverbs 18:4
“For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9
“As they make music they will sing,
‘All my fountains are in you.'” Psalm 87:7
Power of water rising, only to fall, pulled by gravity, in incessant splashing. Welling and rising out of an unknown, invisible source, the circuitous force and amorphous spray and propulsion and drop mesmerizing. Constant flow, rhythmic staccato and splash, beauty in glistening, light-kissed, iridescent drops.
We are containers, designers by God to be filled with His Spirit of life and love and joy. Our mouths, minds, eyes, when filled with Him, are also filled with wisdom and grace, intended to overflow and shoot out in glad array, displaying and voicing God’s wisdom and goodness and praise. (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:18)
Have I been counted righteous by the fount of Christ’s blood? Then my mouth will love, and issue life-giving words. Have I sought understanding? Do I have it? Then I can teach and encourage and comfort with spiritual wisdom. Do I prefer shallow interest in the Lord, mimicking only what others have opined or decided or quipped? Or do I take time and thought to go deep, tapping down into the soul where He abides, and guides, and fills, so I can live and speak from an eternal spring of substance? (1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7)
The key to being filled is being emptied before Christ, and allowing Him to apply His riven side, the flow of redeeming blood shed for me. Cleansed from sin, we are filled with Jesus and His power to live uprightly, think rightly, and spout forth righteousness. Arid desire gives way to flourishing love, monotony to melodious, joyful song.
“There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.” ~William Cowper (1772)
How would others describe the state of our souls by what they see and hear coming forth from us? What can we do this day to draw anew from the Spring of Living Water that is our Lord, then winsomely display for others the redeeming love of our Savior? (John 7:37-39)
Lord, empty me of self and fill me with Thee, as my endless theme, love, and joy.
As the rain and snow 