Worship

The Proper Heart Attitude

What is worship? We all have our own idea of what that may look like. But Jesus gave us the definition of true worship in John 4, While speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus clarified the woman's statement. For she stated, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."  (John 4:20) Jesus said, "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. (vv 23-24) Jesus' point, in light of his coming as Messiah and savior, worshipers will be identified, not by a particular location or building, but by their worship of the Father through the Son. True worship is a heart condition. Worship starts with knowing who it is that we are worshipping. If we merely look at worship as a music style or even the building in which we worship, we've missed the whole point. "Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father." (v21) Jesus was saying, this temple in which you are speaking of can and will be destroyed. However, the one in which he was speaking of pointed her to the Gospel. He was pointing her to the Father's work he will soon complete on the cross for all of humanity. We must not simply worship by external conformity to religious rituals and places (outwardly) but inwardly "in spirit' and "in truth". We must worship God consistent with the revealed Word of God in Scripture and centered on Jesus Christ. 

Lord, help us to come back to the true heart of worship. Help us not to merely seek worship through a music style or even the building we may gather in, but of a heart that is prepared to give you praise. Help us remember that we are the work of your hands and it is this temple in which you live through the Holy Spirit. Help us to look inwardly at the condition of our hearts so that we may come to you with a heart that is prepared to worship in spirit and in truth. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.