John 4:21-24 Heart of Worship

Woman I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming - in fact it's already here - when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshippers......The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.

Observation

The conversation that Jesus has with the Samaritan woman at the well is taboo in a couple of ways. One, she is a woman. A Rabbi just didn't have conversations with women like this. Secondly, she was Samaritan. Samaria was to be avoided at all costs. Believe it or not, Samaria use to be apart of Israel. There was division in the kingdom of Israel after Solomon's death and soon Samaria became a hotbed for idol worship through alliances made with other kingdoms. Instead of using the temple in Jerusalem, Samaria constructed their own temple. Moreover, Samaritan Jews married outsiders and became known as half-breeds and mongrels. Jews avoided Samaritans at all costs for fear that they would get infected by their Samaritan ways. 

But Jesus never sees people as their label, He always sees into hearts. He tells this Samaritan woman that she doesn't need to worry about the where, or her sins, or her labels; just seek God with an honest heart ready to receive His Spirit.

Application

This specific passage hit home with me over the last several months. I've known the passage for years and have even touted it on stage while leading worship. But in the last several months it has gone from head knowledge to heart knowledge. 

I asked God several months ago what is the criteria for leading worship? It certainly has to be more than talent, but what else is it? One major thing that He revealed is worship is based on truth. So I've been praying God's truth revealed. I pray first and foremost for myself. I know I can look at myself in benign ways, I need God's word to reveal any deceit I'm harboring. In His love and mercy, He does. I also pray His truth revealed over all of the worship team. God is not looking for perfect worshippers, but He is looking for honest ones. There is freedom in honest worship, a freedom that can be found no other way. It is this worship our Father seeks and it is this worship that I long to give.

Prayer

Father, thank You for revealing lies that are in my heart. I open up my heart to You again and again and I ask that You show me where I'm being deceived and bring that deceit to worship. I want to seek You with all that I am, holding nothing back from You, but bringing everything into the light of Your love.