Daily Devotional
Do You Want to Be Filled with Real Joy?
The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 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 4:19-23
October 16, 2024
Ponder This
Do you know what’s wrong with the Church today? We have forgotten how to worship. Some people today say if you want to build a great church, talk to the people about their needs on Sunday morning. Then, help meet those needs. When they talk about their needs, they’re talking about their emotional, psychological, and physical needs.
So many of our worship services across America have left theology and gone to me-ology. Rather than worshiping God, we come and turn our eyes inward, seeking to find life. But Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). If you want to be miserable, turn your life inward. If you want to be filled with joy, turn your life upward. Look into the face of God and learn to worship.
Now, we’ve studied and read this morning about a woman at a well who was miserable. She was miserable because she had never learned to worship. She was self-centered. She was a slave to sin. She was a religious woman, but religion had never helped her. This is why Jesus taught this woman about worship. Whether you are up and out or down and out, you need to learn to worship God.
- What does it look like to worship God?
- What are some ways you can be self-centered instead of Christ-centered? How does this affect the way you worship God?
Practice This
Go outside and worship God for who He is and what He has done.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
