True Worship

But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. (John 4:23)

John 4:1-39; Ps. 22:27, 96:9, 139:1-6; Luke 15:3-7; Acts 17:24, 25; Rom. 8:17-26

What Is God Saying?

Jesus' unhurried meeting with the Woman of Samaria is a moving account and an amazing story. A Jew talked with and accepted the kind help of a woman who was a member of the hated Samaritans, a woman who also had such a tarnished reputation that she came to get her water at noon. Women of the village would typically come to the public well in the cooler hours of morning or evening. This woman came when the watering place was deserted to avoid their scornful glances and raised eyebrows. It was to such a person that Jesus talked. It was to this needy and ostracized woman that Jesus offered the water of life.

That gets our attention, but do we not sometimes overlook our Lord's great teaching on worship? The woman was puzzled about where God ought to be worshiped. She should have focused on the why and the how of worship instead of the where. Here, we are given an example of how Jesus cares and loves. It is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible, but we must not miss the rest of the story. God is not here at Mt. Genzim or there in Jerusalem. He is everywhere. He is not to be worshiped in a special place but in a special way, in Spirit and in truth.

How Does This Apply To Us?

The great message of John, chapter three, is true salvation, ‘You must be born again.’ The great message of chapter four is true worship: ‘God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.’ Could it be that true salvation leads to true worship? There is logic here. Being born of the Spirit, we will worship in the Spirit. The joy of salvation leads to the blessing of worship. If God has reached down to save us, we should reach up to worship Him. Salvation rescues us from the tyranny of the trivial and the transient. Worship lifts us above the tyranny of the trivial and the transient. Let us ‘worship the Father in spirit and in truth.’ The hour is now, the need is now, and the joy of it is waiting to be claimed.

Pray With Me

Heavenly Father, in the shining moment that is now, I worship You. Truly worshiping You, I find life's greatest joy, the joy of strength, purpose, and wholeness. In true worship, I am in touch with the springs of my essential being. I am lifted above the transient and the trivial to see with clearer eyes that the life You intend and provide is eternal and eternally meaningful. When I truly worship You, I am the master of the transient and the trivial, and they do not master me.

So, Father, I want to be and recognize my need to worship You in Spirit and truth. Let my mind be clear of worry and doubt. Let my spirit be still and receptive. Let me acknowledge my needs and own up to my failings. In worshiping You, I cannot hide behind a false front. I cannot pretend to be what I am not. Any deception is self-deception. ‘Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O Lord, You know it altogether.’ As I worship You in the quiet submission of my spirit, I would worship You in the clear light of truth.

‘For such the Father seeks to worship him.’ Thank You for the encouragement of this truth: God is seeking. That is the nature of love. That is why the love of Calvary is so amazing, so divine. It is seeking love. You want my worship. You want me to be found. You are not willing that any should perish. You stand at the door and knock. You go after the sheep that is lost until it is found. Help me to worship You in Spirit and in truth. Help me come to You with quietness and truth. Then, as I seek Your blessing, give me the joy of discovering that You seek to bless me.

In the name of Him, who in His infinite love came to seek and save the lost. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

The essence of prayer is being with God in the Spirit, for He helps us in our weakness. He intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words, He searches the hearts of men, and He knows the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). Without the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be like a child wandering in the dark. Without the help of One who ‘searches the heart,’ we could be unconscious of our need and grope in vain for help. He helps us to be aware and honest. He helps us to be completely truthful. Short of that, prayer is a barren habit or even a futile gesture. Shakespeare writes in Hamlet, ‘My words fly up; my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to Heaven go.’

Worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.