In Spirit and In Truth

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1st Samuel 16:7b NLT

Have you ever wondered how different a potential relationship might have been if instead of judging you by your outward appearance, someone took the time to really know you - who you are on the inside? Here's your opportunity.

John 4:23 NLT tells us, "...the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way."

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? As I understand it, Truth is the Word of God, so worshiping God for who He really is as defined in Scripture. That's Truth. What about in spirit? We say our spirit is who we really are inside this body, so to worship Him with everything that's within us? (Psalm 103:1b, "And all that is within me, bless his holy name.")

If we're standing in the sanctuary worshiping God (which by the way is NOT the only place or way to worship), but if we ARE standing there, it could become easy to go through the motions of worship while thinking of sleeping in, or going to lunch, or 'I don't like this song', or "somebody's off pitch..." Have you ever done that? And probably no one around you is any wiser... but God is. What IS within me? What am I worshiping Him with?

"People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." You know. The Heart. How often have we said something like,"My heart is with you" or "I wish you could hear my heart." Is it our whole heart or only the part that is not distracted by the rest of the world?

Prayer:

Father,
          We want to worship You with our whole heart, not just parts. Create in us a right spirit. Give us clean hands and a pure heart so that we may worship You in Spirit and in Truth, no matter Who is looking or listening. In Jesus' Name we pray.

Looking for...

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.

John 4:23 NKJV

It used to be that in order to work for the company, you had to know someone who was already an employee in good standing, and that person had to vouch for your character and your ability. Not so much anymore - we do background checks and drug and alcohol screening like most companies, but we've laid aside the prerequisite of sponsorship. Weekly, I get lots of calls and dozens of emails from people who are looking for work. Some are so desperate, it seems as though they are just going down the phone list of every and any company in the area. They don't know anything about what we do - they don't know any of the requirements or prerequisites - and some of them don't care. They don't care what the position is or what it requires. They want to be hired because they just want in. Well, it doesn't work that way in the business world.

It doesn't work that way in Heaven, either, and yet people are trying the same tactics to get in there, too. They tell you they're a good person, they haven't killed anyone, they pay their taxes. They make donations to reputable charities and they want in. They don't know anything about anything, but "How hard can it be?"

Well, actually, there is an element of truth in that question. It's not that hard because Jesus has already made the way for us. But if we think we can come in on our own, we're sadly mistaken. We must have our backgrounds cleared by the Cross, and we must learn what the position requires in order to be able to stay. No lip service, no faking it, no pretending. We can only enter through Christ's sponsorship. And that's not subject to change - no matter if the ACLU likes it or not. It's Christ's way or the highway! There is NO other way in. John 14:6, NKJV, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

And if we avail ourselves of His sponsorship, then we'd better dig into His Book and learn about the Holy Spirit who will bring us into all Truth. And that's the position God wants to be filled. True worshipers - those who will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

That's who the Father is looking for. Will He be able to find You?

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to delve deeper into Your Word and be stronger in Your ways. Send the Light of Your Truth to rightly divide between soul and spirit, as it is written. We're not looking for unemployment handouts. We want to rightly fill the positions You are seeking to fill. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen