Deeper Reflection
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A FAMILY CONTEXT OF ANCESTRAL worship, where my parents would bring me to various places to seek divine guidance and blessings from various deities. After I came to know Jesus Christ, the Son of the living and true God,¹⁶ I realised what was true worship.During Jesus’ time, the Jews would go to the Temple in Jerusalem on specific dates in a year to worship and pray to Yahweh, the God of Israel. At the same time, the Samaritans believed that God had designated Mount Gerizim as their place of worship (v.20). Jesus taught that true worship was ultimately about the true God and His true worshippers. Location is no longer relevant. The true God can be worshipped in spirit and truth – anywhere and at any time!This is because God, by His Spirit, dwells in His people. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16). Through Jesus Christ, God’s people now have direct access to God and direct communications with Him through our worship and prayers from our hearts directed in faith to God. Wherever and whenever we want to talk to God, He is just a prayer away. God journeys with us through life and we can approach Him in all of life’s experiences – whether we are laughing on the mountaintops or crying in the valleys. In every step of our earthly pilgrimage, the nearness of God is our good! Let us tell others the good news of Messiah Jesus that they may believe in Him! Let us promote the true worship of the true God!

---

¹⁶ 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.