TRUE AND PERSONAL WORSHIP

 

Saturday, May 17, 2025

 

TRUE AND PERSONAL 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. I’m usually up by 5:30am or earlier. I have already made coffee and am sipping my first cup. I am, by nature, contemplative. I like to think. I like the peace and quiet that inhabits 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, ask forgiveness for hurtful things, 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 our way.

 

The woman at the well pointed out this problem when she contrasted worship in the Jerusalem Temple and the Samaritan 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 amazing how knowledgeable this woman was about her faith, yet I do not think she was a worshipper!

 

Some folks today are absolutely convinced that true worship can’t be done without special garments and sanctified tools. Their worship is so structured and formal that the empty vestments might conduct worship just as well without the minister they adorn! It is the same every time. On the other end of the spectrum are those who seem to have no structure at all, and the common dress has become another kind of formality. One seems to have removed all emotion while the other seems to have removed all order.

 

Dare we to allow our spirits to soar without some structure and order? Dare we maintain strict order and structure without a soaring 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 do love you. Receive my worship today and let it be acceptable in thy sight. AMEN