JANUARY 22, John 4:6-9, 24-26 

At Jacob’s well, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman and asked her for water. She was initially reluctant to offer a drink to Jesus: a Jew, a man, and a stranger. But Jesus told her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked for the living water which only He could provide, and He would have given her that water willingly and freely. By and by, she realized that Jesus was the promised Messiah especially when He revealed, “I that speak unto thee am he.”

Besides learning that Jesus is God, this woman also learned another truth: That God is a spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. What does “worship God in spirit and in truth” mean?
It means so many things: that God looks at your heart and your attitude, that God requires true doctrines to be learned and practiced by us, that God must be worshipped and His Word followed not just in church, but at home, in your bus, in school, in the football field or playground.

It can also mean when you do your quiet time at home, God is with you, watching over you lovingly. When you go to church, have a short prayer before you start worship service. Or when you are in the children’s program, singing or listening to a teacher, you can worship God through your actions.

However at the same time, remember you can dishonour God through your action. Are you cooperative during singing sessions; do you talk when you are supposed to sing and keep quiet when you are supposed to answer questions? To “worship God in truth” would clearly mean we cannot worship God in error. Some of you may be in Christian schools that teach doctrines different to our faith. They may teach that speaking in tongues is correct, that using rock music in worship services is acceptable...
If in doubt, ask your Sunday school or Christian parent about what your schools teach, and they should be able to point you to the right way.

Thought: We must worship God in spirit and in truth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please teach me to learn how to worship in the right way, in spirit and in truth and not in error. Teach me also to be a true Christian, not only in church or when I’m with Christians, but anywhere and anytime. In Jesus’ name I ask, amen.