08/25/2026
When Jesus said we worship the Father “in spirit and truth,” He was changing the way we understand worship. He was speaking with a Samaritan woman who believed worship was connected to the right physical location. Her people worshiped on one mountain, while the Jews worshiped in Jerusalem. But Jesus was pointing her toward something greater that was about to happen through Him. Worship would no longer be about getting yourself to the right mountain, building, or religious environment. Through Jesus, you would be brought into relationship with the Father.
Jesus told her, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24, ESV) Sometimes we hear that verse and immediately turn it into another requirement. We start wondering whether we worshiped sincerely enough, passionately enough, or spiritually enough. But look at the conversation Jesus was having. He wasn’t giving this woman another religious burden. He was revealing that the kind of relationship with God she was searching for was not going to be found by traveling to the correct location. Jesus Himself was standing in front of her.
After the cross, this becomes even clearer. Worship is not your attempt to work your way into God’s presence. Through Jesus, you have already been brought near. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13, ESV) You don’t sing so God will come closer. You don’t lift your hands hoping the Father will finally notice you. You worship because Jesus has already brought you near. The distance sin created has been dealt with through His blood.
This changes worship for me because I don’t have to measure it by what I feel. There are days when I can feel overwhelmed by the presence of God, and there are other days when I don’t feel much emotionally at all. Neither experience changes what Jesus accomplished. Worship in spirit and truth isn’t pretending you feel something you don’t. You can come to the Father exactly where you are because your access to Him rests upon Jesus, not your emotional condition.
And worship is much bigger than singing. You can worship God while driving to work. You can worship Him while serving your family. You can worship Him through generosity, kindness, forgiveness, prayer, and simply trusting Him in the middle of an ordinary day. You aren’t leaving God’s presence when the worship music stops. The Spirit of God lives in you. Your relationship with the Father continues long after the final song has ended.
Hebrews tells us, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19, ESV) I love the word “confidence.” Under the old covenant, approaching the holy place was surrounded by restrictions because sin had not yet been finally dealt with. But Jesus offered Himself, finished the work, rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Because of His blood, you aren’t standing outside wondering whether you are welcome. In Christ, you have been given access.
So when you worship, you don’t have to perform for God. You don’t have to manufacture an atmosphere. You don’t have to prove that you are spiritual. You can simply turn your attention toward your Father and respond to what is already true. You are loved. You are forgiven. You have been brought near. Jesus is alive. His sacrifice was enough. The Holy Spirit lives in you. Those truths give you something much stronger than a temporary emotional experience.
The next time you worship, remember that you aren’t trying to reach a distant God. You are responding to a Father who has already brought you near through His Son. Worship Him in spirit because His Spirit lives in you. Worship Him in truth because Jesus has revealed the truth about who the Father is and what He has done for you. Jesus finished the work and sat down at the Father’s right hand. That means you can stop wondering whether you are close enough to God and begin enjoying the relationship Jesus died and rose again to give you.
