6 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

1 Kings 2-3
John 4:1-26

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

John 4:23-24 (CSB): “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

Jesus spoke the words of John 4:23-24 when He was talking to a Samaritan woman beside a well. While there was much prejudice then (as there also is now), Jesus did not participate. Samaritans were despised by Jews (and vice versa), but Jesus, a Jew, initiated the conversation with a Samaritan woman.

As they talked, Jesus probed into her life with a desire to bring about conviction, the “felt guilt” over personal sin. Jesus did so by asking her to go and get her husband. When she tried to dodge the inconvenient command, Jesus pointed out that she had been married five times and was “shacking up” with her current guy. As her eyes may have bugged and her face began to turn red with shame at being exposed, she changed the subject. She attempted to start a theological discussion on the right location to worship.

And that’s when Jesus spoke the words of John 4:23-24. Let’s seek to understand what Jesus is saying by considering it line by line.

“But an hour is coming, and is now here, …”

Jesus was talking about a different era of time in which the Lord would relate to His people differently and reveal Himself in an even more powerful, personal way. In one sense, it is yet future (Heaven). And in another sense, it had arrived when Jesus came onto the scene.

“… when the true worshipers …”

God isn’t looking for just “worshippers” in name only. There are lots of people who merely go through the motions. He’s looking for true, real worshippers.

But what are the characteristics that make someone a “true, real worshipper” that pleases the Lord?

“… will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth…”

There are two things that are necessary for someone to be a genuine worshipper that pleases the Father. “Spirit and truth.”

But if you look at a handful of English translations, some of them will capitalize the “s” (Spirit) while others will not (“spirit”). That’s because the translators aren’t sure if Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit or to the worshipper’s spirit.

But, and this is so important, when someone trusts in Jesus to make them right in God’s eyes, the Holy Spirit comes in to dwell. And their spirit becomes intertwined with the Holy Spirit, so much so that it is difficult to differentiate between the two. If you doubt my statement, just read Romans 8 in a few different English translations. The translators don’t always agree on whether Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit or the individual’s spirit. Why? Because when someone gets saved, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their life and their personal spirit becomes intertwined with the Holy Spirit.

Suffice it to say that a true worshipper worships from their own spirit, in unity with the Holy Spirit, and they do so according to truth. They don’t make up their own ideas about worship or who God is. They root their convictions in the truth of Scripture and worship from their heart according to that truth. And they are also true in that there is no duplicity in their worship – it is genuine and heartfelt.

“… Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.”

Did you get that? God isn’t indifferent to people worshipping Him. He wants them to do so.

Why? Does God crave affirmation? Does He battle with an identity crisis so He needs people to build Him up?

No! A thousand times No!

As John Piper has said and the Bible validates, “God is uppermost in His own affections.” In other words, there is no one more important to God than Himself. If He were to put anyone or anything above Himself, He would be guilty of idolatry. And since there is none greater than Him, He wants worshippers to come into the experience of His glory and find the joy in doing so. So God is looking for people like that.

“God is spirit, …”

In other words, since the Father doesn’t have a body, then empty rituals that we perform with our body don’t relate to Him. Since He is a spirit, we must worship Him from our spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“…and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

This is restated for emphasis. God is NOT content for people to mindlessly go through the motions of “worship.” He is looking for people who will enjoy Him even as they recognize His incredible worth and celebrate it.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to enable you to rightly observe if your “worship” is merely externals or if you are actually enjoying your God from your heart/spirit.
  • Ask God to open your eyes to what the Bible says about Him, the true nature of worship, and you.
  • Ask God to help you move deeper into Him so that you can experience, and know, and enjoy Him more.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into what true worshippers are, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Who are true worshipers (John 4:23)?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)