21 Jesus said to her: Believe me, the time is coming when you won't worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans don't really know the one you worship. But we Jews do know the God we worship, and by using us, God will save the world. 23 But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.
Worship Him in Spirit and Truth
In response to questions concerning the dispute between Jews and Samaritans where and in what manner God should be worshiped Jesus explains that what God really seeks is people who worship Him in Spirit and Truth. God does not need people to sing his praises or extol His virtues while they themselves are living a lie! All of us can be gradually tempted until we reach the point that our lifestyle does not reflect the Lordship of Christ but rather a service to the idols of this world, whether money, sex, success or power. None of us is immune, even those who serve in Christian ministry can fall in these traps. We need to regularly self-reflect in the light of Christ's example and if we recognize we have gone astray we need to repent and learn again what it means to follow the One who is the embodiment of Truth.
Too many people wear their outward religious masks in church or religious gatherings but in their daily lives they are ferocious wolves that mainly look after themselves without much concern about the needs of others, particularly the weak and powerless. They are not genuine in following the example of Jesus and seek to hide behind a mask of religious ritual and outward religious experiences. Their outward spirituality which can be very convincing is in fact hiding the self-centered evil and ferocious darkness which is hidden in their hearts. Some of them are full of resentment, self-serving pride, envy, or bitterness as they stubbornly refuse to forgive and let go of the evils which were committed against them. Some have turned to being victims of the destructive work of the devil into becoming his agents as they project their resentment, hatred and abuse on other victims. No better way to hide this darkness by pretending to be in the light. However, even if we succeed in fooling people, God cannot be fooled. He knows those who have learned from Christ to be humble and gentle, forgiving and kind. Those who demonstrate by living a life of doing good even to those who oppose them that they are truly children of the Father.
The genuine followers of the way of Christ are truthful and honest about themselves. They face their weaknesses and faults rather than hiding them. Confident of God’s loving kindness, forgiveness and abundant grace they cast themselves upon Him. They strive to follow Christ in everything in trust that He will empower them to do so by His Holy Spirit. Redeemed by Christ and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to make the most of every opportunity to do good to all humanity they become living sacrifices. Their loving holy lifestyle of doing good to all humanity, even their enemies, being the kind of religion God seeks: a life of worship to God in Spirit and Truth.
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