A True Worshiper Of God, Part 1of2, Evans Olang

John 4:20-26-Verse 22, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for Salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth…”

If you are anything like me, every now and then, you probably find yourself meditating on something profound that you should have paid closer attention to in the first place to understand why it was done, so you can explain it to others. I have been meditating on this passage for about a week now. What does it mean to be a worshipful person or be in a worship service? The question isn’t whether I know what being worshipful is, it’s more of finding ways to articulate it to people in a way that makes sense, as I continue to discover more about the mysteries of worship.

I don’t know whether the scripture clearly defines what worshiping God really is. I know what it means to worship Him, but I haven’t been able to find a clear biblical text that defines it in its entirety. When I read the scriptures, I conclude that worship isn’t limited to praising. In a broad perspective, it can be regarded as directly acknowledging God-his nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving, or by the deeds done to honor him. Worship goes with worthiness; ascribing to God’s greatness. True worship service is where Christ is exalted in and through us by the Spirit of God. Pastor Gregg Johnson, senior pastor of The Mission Church said “By His Spirit…For His glory.”

In John 4,Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and taught her what true worships is, amongst other things. Until that time, most people believed that only in a temple, and specifically at the tabernacle, could anyone truly worship God. But Christ came to establish a new thing. He came to clarify what true worship really is. He stressed the irrelevance of an actual geographical location or physical structure specifically set aside for worship. The place of worship isn’t the essence of true worship because true worship is a state of heart and mind. In John 4:23, the Samaritan woman says “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Worship isn’t about where it is done, but how it is done. It has nothing to do with our outward appearance or our actions, but something much deeper than that. In verse 21 of the same chapter Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”

Matthew Henry made the following statement: “As creatures, we worship the Father of all: as Christians, we worship the Father of our Lord Jesus. Now the change shall be, in the nature of the worship. Christians shall worship God, not in the ceremonial observances of the Mosaic institution, but in spiritual ordinances, consisting less in bodily exercise, and animated and invigorated more with divine power and energy. The way of worship which Christ has instituted is rational and intellectual, and refined from those external rites and ceremonies with which the Old-Testament worship was both clouded and clogged”

Jesus reiterated that where we worship shouldn’t be the primary focus (though at times it can be), but our attitude and the condition of our hearts. This is the first point I want to emphasis in this devotion. Worship is about how Christ is exalted above every word, thought and deed, in your heart, in your life, and through you “by His Spirit…for His glory.”

To be continued. Blessings Ev

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