Verse
[Jesus said,] “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
— John 4:23 tniv
Thought
Jesus' words, spoken to the woman at the well, echo down through time. They cut through the worship wars of every era. They rattle our selfish preferences and challenge our dogmatic positions. They remind us that worship is something much more than a responsibility, a ritual, a place, a time, or a style. Worship is a gift. We cannot even properly worship without the Spirit of God in us. Those who are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-7) are given the opportunity to worship because of the Spirit's presence. And when they are led to worship in the Spirit, they are then called to make that worship authentic. Worship in truth is worship that is consistent throughout life — living sacrifice worship (Rom. 12:1-2). As the Spirit permeates our being, influences our hearts, and conforms us to Christ (2 Cor. 3:18), then worship is no longer about place (John 4:21), but about presence! The Holy Spirit, God's abiding Presence in us, makes the life of God come alive in us — not just on a "worship day," but every day in all of our ways.
Prayer
O Father, I want to be a true worshiper! I want to worship you spirit to Spirit. I want my worship words to be consistent with my daily worship in thought, action, and speech. As the psalmist said so long ago, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer." Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
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[Jesus said,] “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
— John 4:23 tniv
Thought
Jesus' words, spoken to the woman at the well, echo down through time. They cut through the worship wars of every era. They rattle our selfish preferences and challenge our dogmatic positions. They remind us that worship is something much more than a responsibility, a ritual, a place, a time, or a style. Worship is a gift. We cannot even properly worship without the Spirit of God in us. Those who are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-7) are given the opportunity to worship because of the Spirit's presence. And when they are led to worship in the Spirit, they are then called to make that worship authentic. Worship in truth is worship that is consistent throughout life — living sacrifice worship (Rom. 12:1-2). As the Spirit permeates our being, influences our hearts, and conforms us to Christ (2 Cor. 3:18), then worship is no longer about place (John 4:21), but about presence! The Holy Spirit, God's abiding Presence in us, makes the life of God come alive in us — not just on a "worship day," but every day in all of our ways.
Prayer
O Father, I want to be a true worshiper! I want to worship you spirit to Spirit. I want my worship words to be consistent with my daily worship in thought, action, and speech. As the psalmist said so long ago, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer." Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
