True Worshipers

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WalterandDebbie

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Monday 11-22-21 Kislev 16, 5782 2nd. day of the weekly cycle, 62nd. Fall Day



True Worshipers


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Read: John 4:19–26 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 18–19; James 4
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True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23


She finally had the chance to visit the church. Inside, in the deepest part of the basement, she reached the small cave or grotto. Candles filled the narrow space and hanging lamps illuminated a corner of the floor. There it was—a fourteen-pointed silver star, covering a raised bit of the marble floor. She was in Bethlehem’s Grotto of the Nativity—the place marking the spot where according to tradition Christ was born. Yet the writer, Annie Dillard, felt less than impressed, realizing God was much bigger than that spot.

Still, such places have always held great significance in our faith stories. Another such place is mentioned in the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well—the mountain where her “ancestors worshiped” (John 4:20), referring to Mount Gerizim (see Deuteronomy 11:29). It was sacred to the Samaritans, who contrasted it to the Jewish insistence that Jerusalem was where true worship occurred (v. 20).

However, Jesus declared the time had arrived when worship was no longer specific to a place, but a Person: “the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (v. 23). The woman declared her faith in the Messiah, but she didn’t realize she was talking to Him. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he’ ” (v. 26).

God isn’t limited to any mountain or physical space. He’s present with us everywhere. The true pilgrimage we make each day is to approach His throne as we boldly say, “Our Father,” and He is there.

What difference does it make to you knowing that God is spirit, always and ever present? What will you praise Him for in this moment?

Father, thank You for Your constant presence no matter where I am.

INSIGHT
The events in John 4:19–26 take place in the context of Jesus asking a Samaritan woman to draw water for Him from a well (v. 7). This is significant because “Jews [didn’t] associate with Samaritans” (v. 9), and the handling of a container that had been held by a Samaritan would make Jesus ceremonially unclean. However, this doesn’t deter Him, and instead He tells the woman about her life and many husbands (vv. 16–18).

That’s why she calls Him a prophet in verse 19. After Jesus explains that the location of our worship isn’t significant, the woman mentions the Messiah (v. 25). Jesus’ response in verse 26 that He’s the Messiah is a reference to God as the “I am” in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14). In the Greek translation, the word he at the end of John 4:26 is absent and literally reads: “I am—the one who speaks to you.”

By John Blase|November 22nd, 2021

Our Daily Bread (odb.org)

https://odb.org/video

LOL, Walter and Debbie
 

farouk

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Monday 11-22-21 Kislev 16, 5782 2nd. day of the weekly cycle, 62nd. Fall Day



True Worshipers


odb20211122.jpg


Read: John 4:19–26 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 18–19; James 4
Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes

True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23


She finally had the chance to visit the church. Inside, in the deepest part of the basement, she reached the small cave or grotto. Candles filled the narrow space and hanging lamps illuminated a corner of the floor. There it was—a fourteen-pointed silver star, covering a raised bit of the marble floor. She was in Bethlehem’s Grotto of the Nativity—the place marking the spot where according to tradition Christ was born. Yet the writer, Annie Dillard, felt less than impressed, realizing God was much bigger than that spot.

Still, such places have always held great significance in our faith stories. Another such place is mentioned in the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well—the mountain where her “ancestors worshiped” (John 4:20), referring to Mount Gerizim (see Deuteronomy 11:29). It was sacred to the Samaritans, who contrasted it to the Jewish insistence that Jerusalem was where true worship occurred (v. 20).

However, Jesus declared the time had arrived when worship was no longer specific to a place, but a Person: “the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (v. 23). The woman declared her faith in the Messiah, but she didn’t realize she was talking to Him. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he’ ” (v. 26).

God isn’t limited to any mountain or physical space. He’s present with us everywhere. The true pilgrimage we make each day is to approach His throne as we boldly say, “Our Father,” and He is there.

What difference does it make to you knowing that God is spirit, always and ever present? What will you praise Him for in this moment?

Father, thank You for Your constant presence no matter where I am.

INSIGHT
The events in John 4:19–26 take place in the context of Jesus asking a Samaritan woman to draw water for Him from a well (v. 7). This is significant because “Jews [didn’t] associate with Samaritans” (v. 9), and the handling of a container that had been held by a Samaritan would make Jesus ceremonially unclean. However, this doesn’t deter Him, and instead He tells the woman about her life and many husbands (vv. 16–18).

That’s why she calls Him a prophet in verse 19. After Jesus explains that the location of our worship isn’t significant, the woman mentions the Messiah (v. 25). Jesus’ response in verse 26 that He’s the Messiah is a reference to God as the “I am” in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14). In the Greek translation, the word he at the end of John 4:26 is absent and literally reads: “I am—the one who speaks to you.”

By John Blase|November 22nd, 2021

Our Daily Bread (odb.org)

https://odb.org/video

LOL, Walter and Debbie
A memorable and searching passage in John's Gospel...
 
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Pearl

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“God isn’t limited to any mountain or physical space. He’s present with us everywhere. The true pilgrimage we make each day is to approach His throne as we boldly say, “Our Father,” and He is there.”

Reading the ODB devotional this morning this passage reminded me of at least three times when I really felt the presence of God in my ordinary, everyday life.

I think the best example was one evening as I was reading and I felt God’s presence in the room with me. It was so strong I had to look up to where I felt he was sitting on the other sofa. He spoke into my spirit and said he wanted to have his slippers in my hall – a sign that he lived here as part of the household.

Once on a crowded bus when I asked him where he was and he showed me he was actually in me when I started to tingle from my toes right up to my head and almost made me laugh out loud.

Another time was when I was dropped off alone in York and asked him to strengthen me and felt my backbone straighten and confidence flood into me in a supernatural way.
 

amigo de christo

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Amen! Especially when we set out to do whatever He tells us.

Love Walter and Debbie
What a lovely reminder .
Makes me want to leave the reminder James once did , FOR JESUS had TOLD JAMES THIS VERY THING .
But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only , decieving your own selves .
FOR JESUS had said , HE who comes to ME and hears and does not is like a man that built his house on sand . IT was vain .
Lambs LOVE JESUS . Which means WE LOVE HIS SAYINGS . NOW leap up and praise and thank the LORD .
 
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Mama Etna

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Vivid reminder that you can't put God in a box. We can't put limits on God. He is the God that stretched out the heavens and spoke this universe into existence.