“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” (John 4:23 ESV).
The Apostle John recorded that as Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, He declared that a new era of worship had arrived through His coming. Jesus explained that true worship was not about a sacred place, but a transformed people. He described the character of these true worshipers as those who worship the Father in spirit and truth. This meant worship that is inward and sincere, enabled by the Spirit, and grounded in the truth of God’s revelation fulfilled in Christ. Jesus presented these not as separate qualities but as one unified reality shaped by the Spirit and anchored in the gospel. He also revealed that the Father is actively seeking such worshipers. This is striking in light of Psalm 14, where David wrote that the Lord looked down and found none who truly sought Him. So the Father sent the Son “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
We must examine whether our worship is mere ritual or truly spiritual and true. It is easy for us to attach worship to places, routines, or preferences, yet Jesus calls us to something deeper. We are invited to worship from the heart, dependent on the Spirit, and shaped by the truth of the gospel. We also recognize that left to ourselves, we would not seek God. Yet the Father has sought us through Christ. Therefore we respond not with empty religion but with sincere devotion. We gather, sing, pray, and live as those who have been found and transformed. This calls us to daily surrender and authentic praise as we worship God in spirit and truth.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that You sought us through Your Son. Teach us to worship You from the heart, by the power of Your Spirit, and according to the truth of Your Word. Guard us from empty ritual and lead us into sincere and Christ-centered devotion. Shape our lives into an offering of true worship that honors You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
‘She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me”‘ (Ruth 1:20 ESV).
When Naomi returned to her hometown of Bethlehem, the women of that small town hardly recognized her in such a downtrodden and depressed state. They asked one another, “Is this really Naomi?”
Naomi, whose name in Hebrew means, “pleasant,” had left Bethlehem years ago during a time of famine to go with her husband and her sons to live in the land of Moab. However, Moab became the place where she buried her husband and both of her sons. Now she was returning to Bethlehem with only the widow of one of her sons, a woman named Ruth. She told the women that had trouble recognizing her, “Don’t call me Naomi anymore. Call me Mara, which means bitter, because the Lord has dealt bitterly with me. For I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty.”
We tend to think in extremes when we are discouraged or depressed. We exaggerate the memory of a happier time in our former condition and overstate the troubles in our current one. Grief and loss easily turn into bitterness. Yet, as Naomi would soon learn, she had not returned as empty as she thought. For Ruth would soon show herself to be worth “seven sons” (Ruth 4:15). And Naomi would spend her later years in fullness and joy.
Are you feeling empty or bitter today? Give it to the Lord in prayer. Who knows what wonderful blessings He holds in store for you tomorrow! We may be products of our past, but we don’t have to become prisoners of it. We can choose to either become bitter or better. Give the Lord Your past, your grief, your bitterness and exchange it for His unconquerable joy!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we look to You today, knowing that You are able to bless us and to change our state of mind. Examine our hearts. Where You see a root of bitterness, help us to pluck it out and to replace it with forgiveness, acceptance, and joy. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit, so that we persevere and overcome in Your Name. For we pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29 ESV).
The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I who speak to you am he.” The woman ran back to her village, leaving her water jar behind, telling every neighbor and friend to “Come and see!”
In reading this account, I didn’t notice an evangelism class, nor any gospel tracts given out. Certainly, these are good things, but the Samaritan woman didn’t have them. She was just passionately excited about having met Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell others her testimony. She became Christ’s herald to her entire village, announcing His arrival and identity to everyone.
The woman at the well simply bore witness of what Christ had done for her. And what was the result of her simple approach? “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus” because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39).
PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to go and tell others to come and see what Jesus has done in our lives and is doing in the lives of others. Forgive us for making it too complicated. Give us your holy urgency to always be talking about Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.
‘Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work”‘ (John 4:34 NLT).
When the disciples returned from the town of Sychar with food for lunch, they found Jesus at Jacob’s well speaking with a Samaritan woman. They encouraged Jesus to eat something, but He answered that He had food of a kind they knew nothing about. When they didn’t understand what He meant, He explained that doing the will of God was His nourishment.
Certainly, physical food is needed for the physical body to live. Jesus was not denying that. However, He was teaching His disciples a deeper truth, namely that God has a purpose for our lives. Our eating and drinking are necessary, but secondary to the purpose of our souls, which is to do that for which we were created. All other purposes become secondary to the purpose of doing God’s will for our lives.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have many needs and you meet the all through Christ Jesus. Yet, we often neglect our deepest need, which is to do Your will. We surrender our lives to You afresh today to do Your will. May Your kingdom come today in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
This is a call to both worship and witness. We might even say that it is a call to the kind of worship that is in itself a witness to the peoples of the world.
The psalmist called the people of Israel to begin their worship with thanks to the Lord. He urged them to call upon the Lord by name, ascribing to Him His many attributes. In addition to calling Him by name, they were instructed to call out His many deeds.
This is a great way to begin our worship. Indeed, it’s a great way to begin each day. Let us sing and tell the world what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, His Son!
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks. For everything we have is from You. We call upon the name of Your Son, Jesus. He is our Savior. He is our Lord. He is our Great Physician, our Great High Priest, the Lion of Judah, and Wonderful Counselor. Father, through Jesus, You have paid for our sins and opened a new and better way for our salvation. You have adopted us into Your family and called us Sons and made us coheirs with Christ. O how You have loved us! Now, we express our thanks. We declare You name and attributes. Strengthen us to make known Your salvation among the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I am He.” The woman ran back to her village, leaving her water jar behind, telling every neighbor and friend to “Come and see!”
In reading this account, I didn’t notice an evangelism class, nor any gospel tracts given out. Certainly, these are good things, but the Samaritan woman didn’t have them. She was just passionately excited about having met Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell others her testimony. She became Christ’s herald to her entire village, announcing His arrival and identity to everyone.
And what was the result of her simple approach? “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus” because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39).
PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to go and tell others to come and see what Jesus has done in our lives and is doing in the lives of others. Forgive us for making it too complicated. Give us your holy urgency to always be talking about Jesus. In His name, amen.
This is a call to worship. Not only that, it is a call to witness. We might even say that it is a call to the kind of worship that is in itself a witness to the peoples outside the faith.
The psalmist called the people of Israel to begin their worship with thanks to the Lord. He urged them to call upon the Lord by name, ascribing to Him His many attributes. In addition to calling Him by name, they were instructed to call out His many deeds.
This is a great way to begin our worship. Indeed, it’s a great way to begin each day!
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks. For everything we have is from You. We call upon the name of Your Son, Jesus. He is our Savior. He is our Lord. He is our Great Physician, our Great High Priest, the Lion of Judah, and Wonderful Counselor. Father, through Jesus, You have paid for our sins and opened a new and better way for our salvation. You have adopted us into Your family and called us Sons and made us coheirs with Christ. O how You have loved us! Now, we express our thanks. We declare You name and attributes. Strengthen us make know Your salvation among the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.
When the disciples returned from the town of Sychar with food for lunch, they found Jesus at Jacob’s well speaking with a Samaritan woman. They encouraged Jesus to eat something, but He answered that He had food of a kind they knew nothing about. When they didn’t understand what He meant, He explained that doing the will of God was His nourishment.
Certainly, physical food is needed for the physical body to live. Jesus was not denying that. However, He was teaching His disciples a deeper truth, namely that God has a purpose for our lives. Our eating and drinking are necessary, but secondary to the purpose of our souls, which is to do that for which we were created. All other purposes become secondary to the purpose of doing God’s will for our lives.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have many needs and you meet the all through Christ Jesus. Yet, we often neglect our deepest need, which is to do Your will. We surrender our lives to You afresh today to do Your will. May Your kingdom come today in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I AM the Messiah!” The woman ran back to her village, leaving her water jar behind, telling every neighbor and friend to “Come and see!”
In reading this account, I didn’t notice an evangelism class, nor any gospel tracts given out. Certainly, these are good things, but the Samaritan woman didn’t have them. She was just passionately excited about having met Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell others her testimony. She became Christ’s herald to her village, announcing His arrival and identity to everyone.
And what was the result of her simple approach? “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus” because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39).
When Naomi returned to her hometown of Bethlehem, the women of that small town hardly recognized her in such a downtrodden and depressed state. They asked one another, “Is this really Naomi?”
Naomi, whose name in Hebrew means, “pleasant,” had left Bethlehem years ago during a time of famine to go with her husband and her sons to live in the land of Moab. However, Moab became the place where she buried her husband and both of her sons. Now she was returning to Bethlehem with only the widow of one of her sons, a woman named Ruth. She told the women that had trouble recognizing her, “Don’t call me Naomi anymore. Call me Mara (which means “bitter”), because the Lord has dealt bitterly with me. For I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty.”
We tend to think in extremes when we are discouraged or depressed. We exaggerate the memory of a happier time in our former condition and overstate the troubles in our current one. Grief and loss easily turn into bitterness. Yet, as Naomi would soon learn, she had not returned as empty as she thought. For Ruth would soon show herself to be worth “seven sons” (Ruth 4:15). And Naomi would spend her later years in fullness and joy.
Are you empty or bitter today? Give it to the Lord in prayer. Who knows what wonderful blessings He holds in store for you tomorrow!