Spirit and truth

19“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4) 

Thoughts: The Samaritan woman was trying to keep Jesus at bay.  He was getting personal talking about her husbands and her live in boyfriend.  So she began to talk about theology/politics- the things that separated the Samaritans from the Jews. 

One was the place of worship. The Jews saw the Samaritans worshiping on a high place that was not kosher.  The Jews prescribed worship to be in Jerusalem only.   Jesus' reply was that true worship is not a matter of place- but of the heart- in spirit and in truth.  Jesus wants love and sincerity in worship- not a bunch of lipservice and self-serving political snippets. 
    When Jesus said God is spirit, it is a reminder that no Temple or mountain can contain God.  But it is also a reminder we must worship God spiritually and not just physically.  Our worship must be truthful from our heart. 

Prayer: Lord, let me worship you in spirit and in truth.