JOHN 4:23-24

Yet a time is coming, and has now come, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks; God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

TO PONDER

Jesus spoke these words during his meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well. The Samaritans worshipped the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but failed to accept much of his revelation beyond the first five books of the Bible. This meant they really knew very little about him. Jesus told them salvation would come from the Jews, in fact it had come at that present time, in the person of Jesus himself.        

We can be challenged by Jesus’ next words which indicate a move in the understanding and practice of worship; he speaks of specific qualities rather than being confined to physical locations or external rituals. Jesus says we will worship in spirit and truth; God is spirit and he seeks people who will worship him in spirit and truth. His desire is that our worship is genuine and heartfelt and that it goes beyond mere religious practices. The challenge here is to evaluate our understanding and practice of worship.

God knows our inmost thoughts and desires and it is from this place we can begin to connect with God in spirit, we are to seek a genuine encounter, not just going through religious motions or seeking personal fulfillment.  We are to approach God with reverence, humility and an authentic desire to honor and adore him.  We know God is spirit so he is everywhere, thus we can seek him at anytime no matter where we may be, our workplace, our home or as we negotiate a crowded place.  We need to seek him with sincerity and a desire to know him intimately and as our hearts align with his, we can worship him wholeheartedly; we will find peace and comfort in our lives as our spirit connects with God’s and then making and keeping this connection will become a very natural and necessary part of our lives.

PRAYER: Father God, I yearn for a close and intimate relationship with you. Jesus has explained that this also your desire, that I come to you and speak the truth from the deepest part of my being, that my spirit connects with yours. May I always remember and practice this so that it becomes as frequent and easy as taking a breath.  Amen

Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle