Page 22 - Summer 2015 Contact issue 34

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP Part 2 How are we to worship? In John 4 Jesus engages the Samaritan woman in a conversation beside Jacob’s well. After an uncomfortable exchange about husbands, the woman tries to defect His questions by changing to an even more controversial subject, worship. Jesus’ answer cuts to the core of the matter. 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will 23 worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” True worship is not about the location. Jesus puts new parameters on her concept of worship saying that our meeting place with God would no longer be limited to specifc physical structures, locations or times and would no longer involve animal sacrifces, Levitical priests or holy places. In a single conversation Jesus places Himself at the centre of worship. Verse 24 reveals the importance of spirit and truth within true worship. Worship becomes a matter of the heart through the Holy Spirit. We do not have to worship in a particular location or abide by particular set of ritualistic rules. Our hearts need to be turned and dwell upon the truth of God, His character, and His Word though our worship. Sincerity or good intentions are not enough to create true worship. Uzzah’s good intentions led to disobedience of God’s command which in turn lead to his death. We must always be careful to worship God correctly, according to His character and His Word. 2 Samuel 6:6 - 7 When they came to the threshing foor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.