EARLY WORSHIP!

EARLY WORSHIP!

John 4:23-24

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

I am almost always up early. As I sit here this morning the little clock on the computer says 5:01am. I have already made coffee and finished my first cup. I am, by nature, contemplative. I like to think. I like the peace and quiet that dwells in the morning hours. David talked about “preventing the dawn” which did not, of course, mean that he would or could keep it from happening but that he was up before dawn.

In these morning hours I like to challenge my patterns and practices, evaluate my priorities and re-think those things that have become commonplace. You see, our usual and comfortable way of doing things can, if we are not careful, make us Pharisaical. We judge others because they do not do things or think things in the same way as we.

The woman at the well pointed out this problem when she contrasted worship in the Jerusalem Temple and worship “on this mountain.” Probably pointing to Mount Gerizim, at the foot of which Sychar was situated and the well upon which Jesus sat. The patriarchs had worshipped here-Jacob built an altar on this mountain, and worshipped the true God: see Gen 22:2; 33:20. Thus she could say, Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. On this mountain Sanballat had built them a temple, about 332 years before our Lord's incarnation.

·        Adam Clarke's Commentary

John 4:20

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

She pointed out the difference and the ongoing controversy hoping to dismiss both. It is almost amazing how knowledgeable this woman was about her faith yet I do not think she was a worshipper!

Some today are absolutely convinced that true worship can’t be done without special garments and sanctified tools. Their worship is structured and formal. It is the same every time. On the other end of the spectrum are those who seem to have no structure at all. One seems to have removed all emotion while the other seems to have removed all order.

Dare we to let our spirits soar without some structure and order? Dare we maintain strict order and structure without heart? There seems to be no right or wrong way to hug Jesus.

Dear Lord, I love you. I do not love you enough, and I fear that I am clumsy about it, but I love you. Receive my worship today and let me be acceptable in thy sight. AMEN