"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23,24
One of my dear friends, an Army soldier and fellow ultra-runner, was recently deployed to Korea for a year. Being in a foreign country and not knowing the language can certainly make it difficult, or even impossible, to do certain things but it can't keep a devoted follower of Christ from doing the most important thing. You see, as most of us were preparing for bed Saturday night, my friend (14 hour time difference) was already attending worship service-his live video streaming the praise and worship band performing in Korean. As he recorded the congregation singing along, I pictured him sitting in the pew not understanding it with his ears but fully grasping it with his heart.
Scripture tells us that when Jesus said that, "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth," he was responding to a question from the woman at the well who wanted to know the correct place to worship. Christ wanted her to know that, since "God is spirit," and is present everywhere, there is no correct or perfect place to exalt him. He can and should be honored and praised anywhere and everywhere and at any time and at all times by you and me, "for the father is seeking such people to worship him."
No matter where we are, whether it be at our home church or a church across the ocean, the important thing is always this... that we worship God in spirit (in our hearts) and in truth (in our minds) with a genuine devotion to the Father who is worthy of all praise knowing that he will speak to us in a language that we will always understand. My friend understood that and I hope that we will too.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your infinite presence that goes with us everywhere we go. Thank you for our brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world that welcome us into the fold to worship alongside them. Most of all Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you would give us your Holy Spirit to speak to us in a language that we can always understand. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Shout to the Lord - Hillsong United
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