You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.
John 4: 22-23
From Religion to Relationship
The Samaritan woman’s unexpected encounter with Jesus at the well is one of my favorite stories. It was a divine appointment that would alter the course of her life. In a way, He was saying to her, “You—yes, you—are wanted for this!”
Her response to Jesus is not unlike what we might expect in the same circumstances today. She tried to get him on a “detour” by discussing different religions. Jesus guided the conversation from religion to relationship.
Jesus Makes It Clear
This Gentile woman, like so many people we meet day in and day out, had a partial but limited understanding of the truth of God, the worship of God, and God’s great plan of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Their conversation reveals how people are capable of vaguely worshipping things they don’t really understand.
However, Jesus revealed her spiritual ignorance; she did not know whom to worship, where to worship, or how to worship.
Jesus made it clear that some worshippers act in ignorance and unbelief.
Because of His Love
God has given us the full revelation of who He is. We are equipped to worship the one and only God who can be known, in spirit and in truth. Only those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit and who obey the truth can worship God acceptably as He reveals Himself to us.
We were created for worship! God desires us and our worship! He relishes our worship! Because of who Jesus is, He could legitimately say to this Gentile woman, “You worship what you do not know.”
Worthy of Our Worship
You—yes, you—are wanted for this, for worship! The key to true worship is authenticity—glimpsing and experiencing the truth of God and responding to Him in openness to the truth of who He is in our lives.
Your worship is the declaration that God is worthy to be praised, to be adored, to be shared, and to be served!
Now What?
Reflect on your answers to the questions that follow: Do you know this Jesus? Have you entered into a relationship with the One who authors, ordains, and guides you into this authentic worship through the power of the Holy Spirit? What does your worship look like, feel like, and express?
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