“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
True worship of God is not determined by the place one worships (Jerusalem or Mt. Gerizim), nor by outward forms (liturgies, vestments, instruments, etc.). As Jesus said, true worship is “in spirit and truth.” It is not just words spoken by the lips; it is genuine prayers and praises from a penitent heart that trusts in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for mercy and forgiveness.
Dear Father in heaven, grant that I worship You not merely with my lips or with outward forms but with a heart cleansed of my sins through the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
“Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.’” Jeremiah 15:19
God called upon Jeremiah and He calls upon all of us, especially preachers, to return to Him and His Word; He desires that we repent of our sinful and erring ways and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross. We are to distinguish between the truth revealed in God’s Word and the worthless errors and false teachings of men. While it is always a temptation to compromise and return to a church and fellowship that is less than faithful to Christ and His Word, God tells us to let them return to us and the true doctrine but not to return to them and their errors.
Grant me true repentance and faith in Christ Jesus and His cross, O LORD, and keep me in the truth of Your Word. Let me not compromise the truth for the sake of earthly peace and fellowship but hold fast to You and the teaching of Your life-giving Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their mind.” Jeremiah 12:2
The prophet speaks of the wicked prospering in the land before God’s judgment fell upon them. God gave them life and blessings. Yet, though they confessed God’s name with their mouths, their minds — their inward and true desires and passions — were far from the LORD. And how true this is today! People speak God’s name and call themselves Christians, but their hearts are far from the LORD and His Word.
Forgive me, O Lord, for taking Your name on my lips when my heart is far from You. Grant me true repentance and faith in Your mercy for the sake of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.” Jeremiah 11:14
Is there a time when we are to quit praying for people? Though we pray that all repent of their sins and look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, there is a time to cease praying that the impenitent and unbelieving would be spared from God’s judgments upon their sins. If they refuse to hear the warnings of God’s Word and repent, we must finally turn them over to God’s righteous judgment and trust that God will deal with them according to His wisdom.
Grant that we not reject Your Word, O LORD, but repent of our wicked and sinful ways and look to You for mercy in Christ Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.
“Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
How true this is! Migratory birds recognize the seasons and know when it is time to migrate, but God’s wayward people fail to recognize His judgments and repent of their sins, looking to the LORD God for mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ!
Open my eyes, O Lord, so that I may see my utter sinfulness and Your judgments upon my wickedness, and look to You for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, my Savior. Grant me the Holy Spirit’s help and strength to amend my sinful ways and live for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
