Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4).  A discussion about water turned to worship.  Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

The woman was suspicious because of Jewish worship rules: “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."  Jesus told her that there is something much more important than worship location (John 4:24):

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

In order to worship God in spirit, one has to believe that He exists, that He sent His Son to die on a cross for the forgiveness of your sins, and trust in Him for eternal life.  Too often in Jesus’ day, people would mouth empty words and long prayers, conduct elaborate rituals that “have to be done just right”, but did not worship God in spirit (in faith).  That is still the case today, isn’t it?

In order to worship in truth, we have to come clean and drink in God’s Word in purity and truth.  The person who doesn’t attend church may say, “A person doesn’t have to attend church to be a believer.”

However, there was a good reason why many people did not go to synagogue in those days and still true today, sinful lifestyles.

Jesus confronted the woman with the truth, “you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.”  The truth convicts sinners, but the woman realized Jesus spoke with authority and told her friends: "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?".

Trying to keep a sinful lifestyle and avoid Jesus doesn’t work.

Also, saying that you believe, but always have something going on that is more important than public worship, doesn’t wash either.  The old Texas expression is: “You can run, but you can’t hide.”  Jesus is everywhere and one day He will judge each one of us.

The good news is (1 John 1:9): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Jesus is ready to talk to you, whether you are at home, in a bass boat, at the plant, or at a well.  Ask Him to forgive you and worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He is the Lord and Savior.  Amen

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, Texas www.rlcbaytwon.org