Thoughts on the Gospel of John (44) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and 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: 23.24.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (44)
In His conversation with the Samaritan woman Jesus announces that times are changing: a new era has commenced with His incarnation. God has revealed Himself as the Father in His Son Jesus Christ. That far exceeds what was revealed in the Old Testament. Moreover, God now wishes to be worshipped as Father by believers.

If formerly worship took place in ignorance and maybe without the heart being involved, now there are true worshippers, as God desires.

The nature of true worship is "in spirit", i.e. neither in external rituals or material sacrifices, as happened in Old Testament times. The Holy Spirit is the power behind worship. He can lead the human spirit to wonder at God and His dealings at any time and in any place.

"In truth" signifies that worship must be in connection with the entire Word of God, for only there do we find the truth concerning God, the world and mankind.

God the Father seeks worshippers. In this connection we must not overlook the word "must". God prescribes how we should worship. He wishes to be worshipped in spirit and truth. We are not to praise God through our own thoughts and ideas independently of Holy Scripture. God accepts only what comes from Himself.

Have you ever wondered at God's mercy in letting His own Son die in order to grant us a home with Himself in eternity?

(to be continued next Sunday)