TRUE Worship = Worshipping GOD in ‘SPIRIT’ and ‘TRUTH’!
October
31 Bible Reading: John Chapters 4-6
TRUE Worship = Worshipping GOD in ‘SPIRIT’ and ‘TRUTH’!
"But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship
Him. God is Spirit and those who worship
Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24)
When our
Lord Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar, He addressed
the issue of lasting satisfaction. First, He established a common point of
reference (water, v. 7), then aroused her curiosity on spiritual matters (vv.
9-14) that resulted in directly confronting her sins (immoral lifestyle, vv.
16-19). However, Jesus centered His conversation on the main issue – worship (vv. 21-24), and finally revealed Himself as
the Messiah – the object of worship (vv. 25-26).
Jesus
clearly revealed to the Samaritan woman that, with His coming, God no longer
had a certain place on earth for worship. All who believe on the Lord Jesus can
worship God at any time and in any place. The Jewish people had reduced worship
to outward forms and ceremonies. On the other hand, the Samaritans worshiped
what they did not know; they had created their own religion. Jesus was actually
rebuking both Jews and Samaritans when He stated that worship must be ‘in spirit and truth’!
The emphasis
lies on Spirit as God’s essence as He is free from the limitations of time and
space. True worship is thus not
confined to a place but is rather an action of the heart. John gives three
descriptions of God. He is Spirit
(John 4:24), love (1 John 4:8), and light (1 John 1:5). God is a spiritual
being who is invisible and without a body; He is a divine person who reveals
Himself in perfect intellect, emotion, and will. No idols and no images need
assist us in worship. True worship
means that a believer enters the presence
of God by faith (in keeping with the truth of God’s revealed Word) and there worships Him!
Thus, Jesus makes
worship a matter of the heart. Worship
must be in truth, that is, transparent, sincere, and according to
biblical mandates. Truth is what is in harmony with the nature and will of
God. The issue is not where a person worships, but how and whom. Jesus
Himself is “The Truth” (John 14:6),
so true worship is specifically the worship of God through His Son Jesus Christ.
"Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested." (Rev 15:4)
