In John 4 there is a famous story about Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well in the city of Sychar. Jesus tells the woman, among many things, that Jesus is here and the world will never be the same again. He tells her that true worship of God is changing and will never be the same. Specifically Jesus tells her this: “23 But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” John 4:23-24. What does it mean that we must worship God in spirit and truth? I think we must worship God “in spirit” means, among other things, that our must originate from within, from our hearts, because worship of God is a matter of our hearts.
We must have a relationship with God and live our daily lives in sincerity, motivated by our love for God and gratitude for all He is and has done in our life. Our relationship with God, our worship God, cannot end up just being mechanical or formalistic. Our living, our love of Christ, and our worship of Jesus Christ must be infused with a heart-felt commitment of faith and love and passion for Christ.
To worship God in “spirit” also strikes me to be a reference to the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul said that Christians “worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh” Philippians 3:3. It is the Holy Spirit who awakens in us an understanding of God’s beauty and splendor and power. It is the Holy Spirit who stirs us to celebrate and rejoice and give thanks. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to see and savor all that God is for us in Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who, I hope and pray, gives life and meaning to our worship of Jesus services and who graces us to worship and praise God on the Sabbath.
Jesus also tells us that our worship of God must also be “in truth.” This is easier to understand, for Jesus clearly distinguishes between living the Christian life includes worship reflects the revelation of God in the Scriptures. Our worship is informed and defined by who God is and who He truly is. Our worship must be rooted in and tethered to the realities of the biblical revelation of God, or it is not worship at all! If you are looking for a church make certain that it crystal clear that God, and God alone, is the central focus. Worship is about Jesus Christ, the Light that has come into the world, or it is not worship. And to worship doing old things in an old ways denigrates worship of God. How can we worship God respecting the old things, the history and traditions of God’s presence in the past, but do them in new ways? We can worship God the way when our worship reflects and points to Jesus Christ, who is the light of what is true.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” Romans 12:1.
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” Hebrews 13:15.
“And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve’” Luke 4:8.
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”
Acts 2:46-47.
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