Living water (5) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:19-24.

Living water (5)
In the conversation with the Samaritan woman the Son of God had revealed the state of her life and her sin. Her conscience was touched: she contemplated her guilt and her responsibility before God. She also had another important question concerning the honour and worship that man owes God.

The woman was religious. She knew that Samaritans, in contrast to the Jews, acknowledged only the five books of Moses as the Word of God. Therefore they also rejected the Jewish temple at Jerusalem, as the place had not been indicated by God through Moses.

Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman what worship was really about. He did not mention the former religious centres, nor the traditional sacrificial rites. God desired worship "in spirit and truth". This means that we must worship God in a spiritual manner, not with outward ceremony and animal sacrifices, but with spiritual insight. And it must be led by the Holy Spirit. It is at the same time worship "in truth", i.e. worship that corresponds to the full and final revelation that God has given of Himself in Jesus Christ.

(to be concluded tomorrow)

Today's reading: Jeremiah 30:1-24 · Romans 4:16-25