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 (John 4:23).
These were the words of Jesus to the woman at the well and to all people everywhere. True worship is not merely in form; it must be in spirit and in truth. It was true in the time of our Savior's earthly life; it is true now; and it will be true until the end of time.
Religious forms of worship, the service of the mere natural human being, "cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:8, 9).
A missionary writer tells of one of the great temples in Japan where the worship consists of running around the sacred building 100 times and dropping a piece of wood in a box at each round. To some this may seem to be a very unspiritual worship, but what is the difference between that and going to church, sitting quietly listening to what the minister says, then going back home again, unless we go with the definite purpose to worship, unless we bow our hearts as well as our heads before God, unless we listen reverently, ready to obey the voice of God speaking to us from His Word, unless we commune with Him in prayer? How are we better than the earnest runner?
Our worship is to be in spirit and in truth, a spiritual worship and a true worship. It must be founded upon the Word of Him who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). In reference to our worship of God, it would be well for us to pray, as did the psalmist, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Ps. 19:14).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore" (Ps. 86:12).
These were the words of Jesus to the woman at the well and to all people everywhere. True worship is not merely in form; it must be in spirit and in truth. It was true in the time of our Savior's earthly life; it is true now; and it will be true until the end of time.
Religious forms of worship, the service of the mere natural human being, "cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:8, 9).
A missionary writer tells of one of the great temples in Japan where the worship consists of running around the sacred building 100 times and dropping a piece of wood in a box at each round. To some this may seem to be a very unspiritual worship, but what is the difference between that and going to church, sitting quietly listening to what the minister says, then going back home again, unless we go with the definite purpose to worship, unless we bow our hearts as well as our heads before God, unless we listen reverently, ready to obey the voice of God speaking to us from His Word, unless we commune with Him in prayer? How are we better than the earnest runner?
Our worship is to be in spirit and in truth, a spiritual worship and a true worship. It must be founded upon the Word of Him who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). In reference to our worship of God, it would be well for us to pray, as did the psalmist, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Ps. 19:14).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore" (Ps. 86:12).
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