“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24 NIV).
Jesus stopped by a well and spoke to a Samaritan woman. The Jews believed that Samaritans were unclean, so they avoided Samaria. Jesus went to this place to show these people that they were precious to the Father just as the Jews were. He also went there to show his disciples that the Samaritans were people who the Lord loved also. He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. This puzzled her because no Jew would drink after a Samaritan. Then he proceeded to ask her to go get her husband. She said she had no husband and he told her that he knew that she had had 5 husbands and the one she was living with now wasn’t her husband. She was amazed that he knew that. She called him a prophet and said she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus told her that he was the Messiah. He than told her that the Samaritans must worship God in spirit and in truth. That was when she ran and told everyone to come and meet the man who told her everything she did. It is because of this that many in her town believed in Jesus.
Jesus knows you inside and out, just as he knew all about the Samaritan woman’s life. He knows what you think in your heart that nobody else knows. You may think that you have secrets, but you don’t because Jesus knows everything about you, just as he knew everything about this Samaritan woman. Here is the wonderful part: even when you have sinned, Jesus is there to say that He loves you and will forgive you if you confess. He told this woman that he was able to give her living water that would well up to eternal life. (John 4:13) If you are a Christian eternal life is awaiting you also.
He also told her that instead of worshiping God on a mountain or in Jerusalem that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Truth is important to God. The Lord will not abide lies because Satan is the Father of Lies. Jesus spoke of Satan as being a liar: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Jesus always spoke the truth and those who love Him must worship the Lord in spirit and truth. It is important for you to be truthful in your relationship with the Lord and with others.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be truthful to you and to others knowing that you cannot abide lies. The world tells us lies that are tempting to believe. Help us to follow your word as a guide and be in a constant relationship with you so that we won’t be tempted to follow ways that aren’t pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
