In Spirit and Truth

The summer is a fun time of the year. Kids are out of school, there are camps, activities, visitors and vacations. Eventhough the weather is still warm, summer has ended. The kids are back to school. This year we have three kids in three different schools...high school, middle school and elementary school. Lori is busy during the day and we are constantly checking in for coordinating pick ups and drop offs of school activities, church Bible studies, practices and games. While busy, we are now on a schedule and our lives are a bit more predictable.

Back to our study in John chapter 4, take a look at verses 15 to 26. Alot occurs with Jesus and the woman at the well in these verses, but focus on v 23. "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. "

Jesus establishes with this woman that He has supernatural ability, by calling out that she is in sin by living with a man that is not her husband. This shows her that Jesus is a unique and special person. They talked about their cultural differences in worshipping God. Notice in v. 17 and 18 Jesus calls out her sin. Then immediately she changes the convesation to political and religious differences between the Jews and Samaritans. But Jesus stays on track. He shows her that a new era of worship is about to take place and the location of worship will be less important. Worship in "TRUTH AND SPIRIT" will be important, thereby allowing the Word of God to go throughout the world.

I think of our culture today. Many churches of differing styles and beliefs feel they are the true way to worship. However, after Christ was crucified and went to the Father, God sent a "Helper", the Holy Spirit, to allow us to be on "Holy Ground" wherever we are. The OBJECT of our worship is held in TRUTH. We can worship other things, people or even ourselves, but it will end in utter futility. The proper focus of TRUE and MEANINGFUL WORSHIP is in Jesus. God will lead us, if we are in His truth, no matter where we worship. The PLACE we worship is in our hearts. If we truely listen and are led by God, He will lead us through various settings of people with differing beliefs. Our spiritual lives as believers here on earth can be put in two categories...BEING DISCIPLED and SHARING GOD's TRUTH in YOUR LIFE. A balanced life in Christ would have both of the these.

A. BEING DISCIPLED - Everyone walking with Jesus should always strive to have Christian fellowship and seek out people in the faith that can provide them wisdom and share in studying God's Word. No matter where you are in your walk being in fellowship and interacting with other believer is crucial to spiritual growth and effect living in Christ.

B. SHARING GOD'S TRUTH IN YOUR LIFE - If we are in God's word and in fellowship with other believers, we then can be very effective in sharing our faith to those who do not adhere to the truths in Christ. This is when our Faith in Jesus will lead us to offer the "Living Water" Jesus spoke of to the woman at the well. We can encourage others in love and respect to live a life on a path of "spirit and truth".

Looking at these two aspects of Christian living above, if you spend too much time and effort in only one of these, you could have an imbalanced spiritual life. Too much in "Being Discipled" causes one to just "store" the truths God has to offer. God doesn't want you to store your knowledge of His truth, he wants you to SHARE it with those not with faith in Christ. Now on the flip side...if you are always sharing your faith and spending limited time in fellowship with other believers, you run the risk of have a "dull" experience to share..... or worse..... be influenced by the non-truths people adhere to.

In the Book of John and as shown in these verses Jesus is exemplifying this way of life for a believer. He has His fellowship with the disciples and He is willing to share with the woman at the well.

"Lord, Your truth is available to be shared throughout the earth. Your Holy Ground is in our hearts, based in Your truths. Help us to grow in our faith and give us opportunities to share your truths to others. Amen."