God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24 WEB
Jesus spoke the words “God is Spirit” to a Samaritan woman he met at Jacob’s well in Sychar. When Christ first encountered her, the Lord asked the Samaritan woman for a drink from the water she drew from the well. Perceiving the Jewish heritage of Christ, the Samaritan woman responded in John 4:9, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? WEB”
Jews and Samaritans avoided contact with one another at that time. The Jews considered the Samaritans as a mongrel race of Jewish blood mixed with pagan foreign blood. The religious Jews disagree with the practices and beliefs of the Samaritan population. Although they shared many similarities, traditional Jews of the day typically had a negative opinion of the Samaritan people.
Living Water
In his exchange with the Samaritan woman, Jesus indicated God’s willingness to forgive and accept repentant sinners from all nations into his holy family. When the Samaritan woman questioned why Jesus, a Jew, would ask a Samaritan for a drink, Jesus began to reveal his divinity. The Lord said in John 4:10, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. WEB”
The Lord taught in John 7:38, “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water. WEB” But what is this living water? God is spirit and the living water is the eternal Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, living water symbolizes salvation and a genuine relationship with God. As God is spirit, sinful mankind must reject the corruption of the flesh in order to worship our heavenly Father in Spirit and truth.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your holy word. Thank you for the counsel of your Holy Spirit. Lead me away from temptation. Guide me to do your will and serve your purpose. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Seed
