Good Morning Worshiping in Spirit and Truth Followers of THE WAY! Meditate on that. Are you a follower of THE Way, Jesus? Are you doing what He made you to do as you are? That flows from worshiping in Spirit and Truth. So, what's that mean? We pray to do that on Sundays. Well, we should everyday. Worshipping in Spirit and Truth involves the Holy Spirit and God's Word. The Spirit brings His Word alive to us and has gifted us to be doers of it. Are we? Think about that a bit as you dwell in the Truth. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Amen! during our huddle time Adam and I wrapped up briefly discussing what it means to worship in Spirit and Truth. It always amazes me how God weaves things together to teach and guide us. The author of our study starts with this overview of the chapter..."Worshiping in Spirit and Truth (John 4) is essential to life in Christ and spreading His movement. Worship draws worshipers into His Kingdom" He then challenges us to think about movement as stewardship and a relational partnership between you and God that leads us to become disciple making disciples. Amen! May that be us Lord! May we worship in Spirit and Truth and be doers of Your Word and may that lead us to be followers of THE Way, Jesus according to our gifts, abilities and Your good plans for us. Thanks! May we grow as disciple making disciples that bring movement in Your Kingdom in our contexts. Amen!
As God would have it, our devotionals for (below) flow through and weave this all together very nicely for us. Thanks Lord! The Word ffor You begins our journey into His Living Word and our life in Christ lived well with this truth..."The Words IO speak to you are Spirit and they are Life." That's Jesus, the Way, truth and Life speaking. His Word brings life! And as we become doers of His Word that will lead to life, renewed life and growing life in Christ. Our Daily bread reminds us to be doers of the Word and to not lean on our own understanding but to seek God, His Kingdom and His best that flows from His Word and informs our prayers and steps, Amen! And the Upper Room reminds us of our call to allow streams of Living Water to flow from us and when we do that is considered an act of worship. We are sent to refresh and teach and bring new life as streams of Living Water flow from us infused with the Word of God and the Good News of Jesus. Do you? Will you? God is with you and wants to use you to be His springs and to bring his Word alive. To do so well you need to start with time with Him with open Bibles and prayerful hearts. Start there and then process with some friends before heading out on this beautiful day to be doers of His Word that bring life wherever you tread. Amen! Help us Lord! he does have great plans for you to discover and enact ! BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND BE READY TO JOIN HIM AS YOU GO ! aMEN! Shalom shalom=perfect peace you will find as you join Him . Try it! Have a blessed day being filled to overflowing with His Truth and following His Way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He lives in you and leads us. Let Him! Come as you are and be transformed to His useful and effective prayer warrior and servant that is doing your part as designed by Him. Amen!
On my desk is a memo board of reminders. Pinned on it is a list, “10 Habits for Great Health,” that I cut out of a nutrition magazine years ago. Recently, I was stunned that even though I see this list every day, I could only remember four items. The list was such a familiar part of my daily surroundings that I’d glance at it without really seeing it or following what it said.
James describes something similar in the attitude of many believers toward the Scriptures: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and . . . goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24). Many followers of Christ are aware of what the Bible says. However, we may “merely listen to the word” (v. 22), and the extent to which we submit to it ends there. In this way, we deceive ourselves about the power and authority of Scripture, failing to see it as providing the “perfect law that gives [us] freedom” (v. 25).
James tells us to be “doers of the word” (v. 22 nasb). A “doer” looks “intently into” Scripture and “[continues] in it” (v. 25), consistently doing “what it says” (v. 22). Obeying God should be not just something we do, but something that flows from who we are. By His strength, we can live out His Word in our world.
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
Why do we need to be “doers of the word”? What Scriptural teaching could you ask God’s help for in obeying?
Dear God, thank You for the truth of the Scriptures. Please help me let obedience to You be who I am.
Our readiness to “do what [the word] says” (James 1:22) can be influenced by how well prepared we are to receive the truths of the Scriptures. Verse 19 encourages the right kind of reception: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” The posture described is one of readiness and welcome. The image that comes to mind is that of an eager, restrained, proactive learner. Believers in Jesus in ancient Thessalonica embodied that kind of deportment. Paul said, “We . . . thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Because Scripture is God-breathed (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17), we can respond to its truth with humility and ask God to help us to obey Him and honor Him with our lives.
Arthur Jackson
UR: Living Water
Jesus said, “Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” - John 4:14 (NRSVUE)
Because of our identity, culture, or background we often feel separated from other people. The Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at the well was different from him because of her heritage and how she viewed traditions. But Jesus chose to speak to her, teaching her about the water that gives eternal life. Not only that, Jesus would also go on to show what being set apart means. Through Jesus, the Living Water, we are set apart to have a new identity and life, to worship him in spirit and in truth, and to tell others about him.
Imagine the surprise among the Samaritans when the woman told them about Jesus. This woman who was on the margins of society was used by Jesus to spread the good news to those around her.
No matter what has separated us from God before, through Jesus we are set apart to worship and serve God. Let us surrender the past and dedicate ourselves to living in a way that brings glory to God as we tell others about God’s mercy and grace.
's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the Living Water that gives life, allowing us to serve you and tell others about you. Amen.
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