In Touch - June 23, 2005

June 23, 2005

 

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped 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. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers 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 4:19-24

 

Jesus read the woman like a book, and she finally started to come closer in realizing who He really was. She began by calling him a Jew, then she called him Sir, and finally she said He must be a prophet. In her uncomfortable situation, she moved into a religious diatribe.

 

How many times have you been sharing Christ with someone and before you know it they are raising some religious objection. They may say, “Well, what is it? Is it the Baptist or the Methodist? Are the Catholics right? Are the Jews right? Are the Muslims right? If God is a God of love, why is there so much suffering in the world? Are you telling me that Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation? What about those in third world countries who have never heard of Jesus?”

 

Many times, the root is not an intellectual problem, but rather a smoke screen put up by the unbeliever to hide from God and cover their own sin. Jesus wouldn’t let this woman get away with this kind of distraction. He basically said, “It’s not where you worship. It’s who you worship that matters! It’s not in your ceremonies or temples. God resides in the human heart and spirit.”

 

We worship God and relate to Him in spirit and truth. If you get anything out of these devotionals, realize that the only way to escape a life of misery, heartache, and hopelessness is through Jesus Christ. He is the reason we exist. God is not concerned with what religion you are. He just wants your praise and worship. He simply wants you to abide by the truths in His inerrant, infallible Word.

 

Make a commitment to not get caught up in rituals, buildings, or manmade spirituality. Learn to live by the bread of life—God’s Word—and love and praise Him daily.

 

IT’S NOT A MATTER OF DENOMINATION.

IT’S A MATTER OF WHO LIVES IN YOUR HEART AND SPIRIT.