In my readings this week a very familiar passage caught my eye and mentally grabbed me by the shoulders. John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Over the years I've heard people try to say that "spirit" here is speaking of the Holy Spirit, but it is not. There are other passages that show us the "Spirit's" involvement in our worship, but that is not what it is really being talked about here. It is referring to our spirits, all that we are - mentally, emotionally, and bodily.
When we look at the verse previous to this one, we see Jesus saying it is not where or how you worship that matters. As far as the Lord is concerned it's who you are and how you are living out your faith before God that counts. I love the way the Message puts it - "Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth." The Father is seeking out those kinds of worshipers - those who come very simply and honestly, being themselves before Him in their worship. Our churches have many people who come week after week seeking truth, but never seem to engage their spirits.
We are challenged in this passage to worship Him out of our very being, out of our spirits, our true selves, all that we are in adoration of Him. Do we let go and do that? I wonder. I see people lose themselves in family, recreation, spectator sports, certain kinds of music and all kinds of other stuff. But, do we reserve greater passion and our whole selves for adoration and praise of Creator - Redeemer God? And, are we constantly pursuing with all that we are life changing truth from His Word in our worship? I think these are exactly what Jesus' challenge is to us in John 4. "Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth". Amen and Amen. mjm
