LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Wednesday 4th June 2025
TRUE WORSHIP
Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42
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.” John 4:23-24
God is Spirit is a definition of God’s being. He is not a mere man, subject to all the errors and limitations of humanity. Neither is He confined to any one place at any time. He is an invisible Person who is present in all places at one and the same time, who is all-knowing, and who is all-powerful. He is perfect in all His ways.
Therefore, those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. Because God is Spirit, He seeks those who will worship Him with that understanding. When we understand that He’s neither confined nor can be contained, we see why we need not go to a mountain to worship Him. The way to worship God is in spirit – not in mere religious routine but in a real relationship.
1. Worship in Spirit. This starts from our hearts. Because God created us in His image and likeness, we can relate to Him personally. We can connect to God from our hearts. It is a spiritual devotion that allows us to receive life from Him as He reveals Himself. The commitment to live for Him is of the heart. It leads to acts of worship and a life lived to honour him.
2. Worship in Truth. There must be no hypocrisy; it must not be a sham. God sees beyond acts and practices. He is much more interested in motives. We must not be enamoured with mere religious practice but be desirous to worship God meaningfully. Truth means reality and so worshipping God is something real. It is an encounter that brings transformation and a change of heart, mind and preferences.
There must be no pretence and religious piety in approaching God. We must look inwardly and be sincere with ourselves if there are issues in our lives that need to be addressed. God is not impressed or pleased when we just go through a series of rituals while our lives are not right. Even though He instituted rituals in times past, He now expects that man approaches Him with a broken and contrite heart.
Jesus brings us into a vital relationship with the Father. One in which we have the opportunity to worship God not through religious observation but in a true relationship that affects every area of our lives. I pray you experience God in spirit and in truth.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open my heart to your Spirit. Help me to worship you in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
