Scripture to Read: John 4:19–24
It’s interesting that once Jesus shared with the woman about her past, she immediately changed the subject to the best place to worship God. We read in John 4:19–24, The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” When people are confronted with the true nature of their hearts, they often start talking about religion as if religion makes them better. Though the woman sought to sound spiritual, Jesus lovingly guided her back to His Truth. Jesus told her that true worship of God was only possible in spirit and truth. In other words, worship is not about the place, but it’s about the condition of a person’s heart. A lost person can do religion, but they cannot worship God. Only a person with a transformed heart, through a relationship with God in Christ and His Holy Spirit living in that person, can worship God wholeheartedly.
Challenge & Application
• When people want to talk about religion, how do you guide them back to the truth of God’s Word?
• Why can’t lost people genuinely worship God, according to what Jesus said in John 4:23–24?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!