CHAPTER FIVE: WHOSE WORSHIP DOES GOD ACCEPT?

HAVE you ever wondered, 'Whose worship does God accept?' A certain woman may have had such question come to her mind when she spoke with Jesus Christ near Mount Gerizim in Samaria.  Calling "to a difference between the worship of the Samaritans and that of the Jews, she said: "Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship."  (John 4:20)  Did Jesus tell the Samaritan woman that God accepts all worship? Or did he say what specific things are required to please God?

Jesus startling reply was:  "The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father."  (John 4:21-24)  The Samaritans had long feared Jehovah and had worshiped other gods on Mount Gerizim.  (2 Kings 17:33) Now Jesus Christ said that neither that place nor Jerusalem would be important in true worship.  

 WORSHIP WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH

Jesus went on to tell the Samaritan woman:  "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews." (John 4:22)  The Samaritans had false religious ideas and accepted only the first five books of the Bible as inspired-and these solely in their own recension known as the Samaritan Pentateuch.  Therefore, they did not really know God. However, the Jews had been entrusted with the Scriptural knowledge.  (Romans 3:, 2) The Scriptures gave faithful Jews and any others who would listen what they needed in order to know God. 

Actually, Jesus showed that both Jews and Samaritans would have to adjust  their way of worship so as to please God.  He said:  "The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.  God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:23, 24)  We need to worship God "with spirit," motivated by hearts full of faith and love. It is possible to worship God 'with truth' by studying his Word, the Bible, and by worshiping him according to his revealed truth. Are you eager to do that?  

Jesus emphasized that God wants true worship.  This shows that there are forms of worship unacceptable to Jehovah. To worship God means to give him reverent honor and to render sacred service to him.  if you wanted to show honor to a powerful ruler, likely would be eager to serve him and do what would please him. Surely, then, we want to please God. Rather than merely say, 'My religion suits me,' we therefore need to make sure that our worship meets God's requirements.

Next time: WHOSE WORSHIP DOES GOD ACCEPT?/DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life