John 4:23-24 – “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  NASB

I love reading about Jesus’s encounters with people, especially those with a stereotypical attitude about Him or anything.  He had a way of cutting through the layers of man-made limitations, getting to the heart of the matter, and bringing light and life to the situation.

Here He encountered a woman from Samaria who had a skewed view of the Jews.  Jesus went outside the norm in speaking to her.  In doing so, He completely dismantled all her preconceptions and brought her face-to-face with the Light of Life in the Son of God. 

He addressed “false worship,” which is still prevalent today in many people and many religious circles.  He tore down the man-made rules and regulations and ideas of what “worship is” and “how it is performed.”  He came to the ultimate truth we need: True Worship is “In Spirit and Truth.”  

It is not in some religious catechism, methodology, or list.  It allows the heart to fully and completely respond to God.  The only possible way to worship God, who is a Spirit, is by the Spirit!  It is a heart function!

When the heart connects with God, there is transformation.  We may connect with just the mind and have a different attitude.  However, our hearts may not be changed, and there may be no transformation in our inner beings, nature, or character. 

However, when the heart connects, we become New Creations and are translated from Darkness into His Marvelous Light and Love.  We become New People because there is a change in us from the innermost part of our being to the outworking of our daily lives.  The change does not come in actions first but the heart.  Out of the heart flows life and changes in actions and attitude.

If you are struggling to be at peace with God and live the Christian life, stop trying to “turn over a new leaf” or “transform yourself” Instead, allow your heart to reach out to His love, and the change will be done IN You, not By You!

May God be with you as you go through your day!