I’ve been reflecting this week on what Jesus said to the woman of Samaria. ‘A time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.’ John 4:15 – 26 (NIV)
Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman shattered all conventional understanding of worship and His message is as true now as it was then: God is looking for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is actively seeking those who have hearts to know Him and go deeper into the revelation of His character. I find that very challenging. It’s so much more than the singing of songs or even the reading of Scripture. It’s constantly letting the Spirit bring fresh revelation of God’s heart and rejoicing in being known and loved by Him and empowered to know and love him in return.
Do you experience this joy in your own worship? God longs for you to. It brings Him joy when we receive His love in the depths of our beings.
Have you ever been told that your worship style is wrong? Or that your church is too formal or too experiential? Or have you ever dismissed someone’s favourite hymn as ancient, liturgy as boring or charismatic worship as disrespectful? I too have been judged and sadly also have judged others. My first church was a charismatic Christian fellowship. As a new Christian I took on an attitude that any denomination that failed to manifest worship like our church, was dead. But when I started ministering with Marilyn, I was shocked to find how much people loved Jesus in these so called ‘dead’ churches! I repented of my attitude, realising that God didn’t care what format or songs were used. What he cared about was if people were hungry to know Him. The very diversity of traditions portrayed a much richer picture of the immensity of God’s character.
Today I worship in a Christian Fellowship and love the Holy Spirit’s ministry, but I am just at home in a traditional church or on a silent contemplative retreat. I love lively praise songs, raising hands, prophesying and singing in tongues. But I also love the awe of an organ led choral chant or the reverent ministry of Holy Communion. Each is an expression of who God is and who I am and each draws me closer to the One I love. He who is majestic and holy, kind and gentle; awesomely powerful yet our closest friend; a sacrificial lamb yet Lord of lords and King of kings . . .Come let us worship and bow down before Him.
Prayer: Forgive me Lord for judging others in their way of worshipping you, for trying to rob them of their freedom. Lord I choose to forgive those who have made me feel afraid or inferior in how I worship you. Thank you that you call me to worship you in a way that truly reflects my uniqueness. I love you Lord, amen.
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