The Imperativeness of Worship
In His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well,
the Lord Jesus said something of paramount importance – something that is often
quoted and referred to, but also not taken and understood the way it ought to
be: “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” (John 4:23).
While this verse is often interpreted and taught as teaching
to pray and God seeking those who pray; but what the Lord actually said is that
God is seeking is worshipers, not ‘pray-ers’.
The Greek Word translated as worship here is ‘proskuneo (pros-kï-ne'-ō) which
means, to crouch or fawn toward (face down), while expressing homage (i.e. with
a servile kiss or display of humble adoration), or to fall prostrate (face
down) in adoration or homage’. Similarly, the Greek word translated as
worshiper is ‘proskunetes (pros-kï-nee-tees') which
means an adorer.’ Whereas the Greek word translated as pray, or to pray, or
praying is ‘proseuchomai (pros-ev'-cho-mai) meaning to
pray to God, i.e. supplicate’.
There is no dearth of people who pray to God; even
non-Christians and non-Believers or those only interested in getting something
form God or having themselves extricated from a situation do so, and God
listens to all of them. But He is not looking for people who pray i.e. ask for
from Him; He is looking for worshipers i.e. those who will prostate themselves
before Him in humble submission with an attitude of utmost adoration or respect
for Him and glorify Him.
From this verse we also see that true worship is “in spirit
and in truth” i.e. neither external nor contrived or a pretense, but is
heartfelt therefore flows out from within, and is directed to God the Father – a
practical enactment of the first and great commandment of the Lord: “Jesus
said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment”
(Matthew 22:37-38).
Our loving and caring Heavenly Father has an abundance of
‘pray-ers’ calling out to Him, but His heart yearns for worshipers and their
worship in spirit and truth – and for a very good reason, as we will see
subsequently. As a child of God it is imperative that we rise up to our
Heavenly Father’s expectations of us and grow up to be a worshiper instead of
just remaining a ‘pray-er’?
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