THE HOLY BIBLE (The New Living Translation – John 4:23-24): …. true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

THOUGHTS: I wonder if God is finding any ‘true worshipers’ in our corporate worship services each week? I wonder how often during the week God is feeling mocked, because of the filth that we have bottled up inside when we approach Him in personal worship time? According to verse 23 above, God is looking for ‘True’ Worshipers – ones who can worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Therefore let us meditate on this for a moment. God is often referred to by His triune partner – Holy Spirit. He is also referred to several times in the Bible as ‘Truth’. So if God is Spirit, and He is Truth, can mere man ever truly stand before Him and worship Him in recognition for who He is? Can’t you feel the dirtiness of sin, just thinking about that picture? Can’t you just feel the unworthiness of mortal man coming into the presence of a holy and righteous God? But we know that God wants, desires and expects our worship, so how do we deal with this dilemma? True to its form and purpose, the answer is in the Book – the Word of God. In fact in these verses referenced above we are taught how this can be accomplished. We must approach the presence of God as ‘holy’ people – saints. The way this is done is through inviting the Holy Spirit and Truth (as explained above) to enter into our lives. Now remember, God cannot exist where sin is. So before we invite God through His Holy Spirit and Truth to enter, we must first ask Him to cleanse us of all our sin. I know, you’re a Christian and can’t imagine why you would need to ask for forgiveness, right? Friends, Satan is buffeting us with sin from the very moment we open our eyes each day, so I can assure you that as long as we are this side of heaven, we need to seek God’s forgiveness before attempting to enter into His presence, or inviting Him to lead us into a time of personal worship. Do you suppose that this could be the reason why so many are side-tracked in our worship services? How is it with you friend? Please don’t bring the everyday filth and distractions before the throne of our Holy, Righteous and Awesome God. He deserves, and desires that we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth – ‘Holy’ in His sight, and this could only be accomplished when we seek forgiveness of our sin and invite God to fill us with more of Himself.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before You each day filled with so much of this world that it must disgust You to see Your children being so brazen as to approach You in such a condition. This is especially true after being reminded in these verses today that You are looking for ‘True’ Worshipers who are prepared to cleanse ourselves of sin and worship You in the power of Your Holy Spirit through the worthy name of Jesus (Truth). Please continue to work on us so that we may always be conscious of our sin and seek cleansing before approaching You in worship. My desire is to please You oh Lord. Please fill my readers and I again today with Your grace, Your mercy and Your forgiveness. For I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!