DAY 132 BIBLE READING
JOHN 4:1-30
Reflection :
In today’s reading, it shows the woman’s greatest thirst seems to have been for acceptance. This is why she stumbled from one bad relationship to the next.
In John 4:16–18 says,
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
The kind of relationship she seeks can only be truly found in God, and only through Christ. So, Jesus explains to her that “true worship” of God does not require one to be Jewish, or Samaritan, or in the temple, or on the mountain. Rather, true worship requires spirit and truth, and God is seeking those who want Him in this way.
While verse 24 makes a clear point that God, Himself, is spirit. God is not simply a more complex physical being or a limited creature. God is not restricted to seeing, hearing, or being in a single location, like the false gods of most religions.
“God is Spirit”
What does this mean?
***God is not a finite man. He is the invisible God.
***God as Spirit does not define Him in His complete being but how He appears to the world. God does not have a body. He is not a corporeal being. “Spirit” simply means He is invisible, not human or finite. He is unknowable without revelation.
***refers to spiritual worship. Worship is not fundamentally material by objects or places of worship. Spirit is the highest part of man. It will remain even if the body dies.
“those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
-There must be no hidden agenda; selfish motive; religious pride or hypocritical heart.. and worship does not require a series of religious rituals nor is it necessary to have an appointed place of worship: God is Spirit and they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
— Though man looks on the outside and is drawn to religious acts of pomp and ceremony, God looks on the heart and delights in the one that approaches Him humbly, reverently and in the fear of the Lord – for God is close to those that are humble in heart; He saves those who are crushed in spirit; He feeds them that are hungry for Him – and streams of His living water will flow in and through the man or woman that worships the Lord in spirit and in truth.
— refers to a real relationship with God. It is a yielded approach to God. This is worship that is in harmony with the nature and will of God. It is a genuine fellowship with God.
Worship the Lord with our heart.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you sent Jesus to be born as a man, who was not subject to our limitations and fleshly leanings, but who lived His life as the perfect example of a man who walked in spirit and truth. Trusting your Word, in humble submission to the Holy Spirit, and in full dependence upon the Father. We pray that like Christ may we live our lives trusting your Word, in submission to the Holy Spirit and in total dependence upon you, so that we may worship you as you desire… in spirit and in truth, to your praise and glory, in Jesus name
