John 4:23-24 Psalm 119:40“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The place where we worship, be it the privacy of our home, a hiking trail, or a crowded church service, matters little to God. He can never be limited to one place or confined to a building. What does matter is how we worship.
God desires to meet us in the very depths of our innermost being. He is not interested in the externals of singing and raised hands, nor is He concerned with how well we can harmonize. Our worship services may sound beautiful, but if we focus on the external while leaving the internal untouched, God is not pleased.
The prophet Isaiah said, “…these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from Me” (Isaiah 29:13). Whenever we draw near to worship, yet fail to acknowledge the scope and reality of our sinfulness, the magnitude of God’s holiness is veiled, and our worship is diminished.
True worship requires honesty regarding our spiritual condition—one that aligns with biblical truth—or else it becomes lackluster and, eventually, meaningless. However, when we allow the Spirit of truth to use the Word of truth to influence our worship, a rich communion takes place.
Today, the Lord is seeking worship that encompasses an internal bending of the knee and rending of the heart, and shows itself not only in song, but also in fervent prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. That is the spiritual worship in which God delights, and in which we glorify Him.
– Pastor Jack
Click here to read all of Jack Hibbs’ Weekly Devotionals at Real Life with Jack Hibbs.
