But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. John 4:23 WEB
The Bible teaches of Jesus in Collossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. WEB” John follows his statement about “true worshippers” explaining that God is spirit. As Paul describes God as invisible, we also read in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. WEB” And so, Christ is God in the flesh, but God the Father is immaterial spirit.
For this reason, God forbids the worship of material things. The ten commandments of the Old Testament record this prohibition. Exodus 20:3-4 reads, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. WEB”
Further, Christ teaches that the love of material things leads to a worship that is unacceptable to God. The Lord says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. WEB”
The Root of All Evil
Of course, mammon is material wealth. The love or worship of material things leads to sorrow as we read in 1 Timothy 6:10 which says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. KJV”
To worship God in spirit and truth, we give up our devotion to material things, devoting ourselves to our Father in heaven. Christ teaches that true believers are born again in Spirit. Jesus says in John 3:6-7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. KJV” Worshiping in spirit and truth, we set aside our carnal desires, give up seeking material reward, and seek instead the spiritual things of God in obedience to his will and not our own.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the lessons in your holy word. Thank you for the teaching of Jesus Christ. Help me to overcome my sinful flesh. Guide me to worship and serve you in spirit and truth. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Firstborn
