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But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.¹

The Samaritan woman mentioned that their fathers worshiped on this mountain² (most likely in deference to Mount Sinai, where Moses received the 10 Commandments³; or Mount Zion, the city of David,⁴ later the location of Solomon’s Temple⁵). Then Jesus declares that the time has come that true worshipers will worship in spirit not in a particular place, form, or other physical limitations.

God is spirit and is not confined or limited to any one place. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’⁶ Nor has anyone seen him; thus, we cannot make any image of him. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female.⁷ To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? Says the Holy One.⁸ You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.⁹

And truth. Not from false conceptions, worldly philosophies, nor imperfect knowledge. Yes, God meets us on our level.¹⁰ But we cannot remain as babies grow into maturity.¹¹ A great deal of what we believe rests upon what we were told or taught as children. Many become zealously religious dependent on what leaders tell them. But we are encouraged to add to our zeal knowledge.¹² Truth is essential. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, . . .¹³ Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.¹⁴

Pray for a thirst for truth—As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?¹⁵ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.¹⁶ He rewards those who diligently seek him.¹⁷ Be like the Bereans who daily studied the Scriptures to verify if what they are being taught is true.¹⁸ If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.¹⁹

We cannot claim to love God apart from knowledge of God. Jesus defines what it is to love God—Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.²⁰