Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
Years ago, I took a test to ascertain what my preferred spiritual style is and I scored highest as a Naturalist. This didn’t surprise me as I love to spend time outdoors walking, biking or boating and praying at the same time. I feel the Creator most when I am out enjoying His Creation.
I am moved by the Spirit.
I scored second highest as an Intellectual. Again, no surprises here. I am a life-long learner who loves nothing more than to pursue new information. I feel God when I am studying His Word and learning. I am moved by the truth.
This reminds me of Jesus’ admonition to worship in both Spirit and truth.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24 NIV).
Spirit
To worship in the Spirit means to engage our heart. God calls us to be passionate in our worship with joyous emotion.
Truth
To worship in truth means to use our head. God calls us to be properly informed with the knowledge of Who we worship.
Spirit & Truth
To honour God with our worship, it’s necessary to combine both aspects. God wants a joyous appreciation of Him informed by factual accuracy. He wants real passion rooted in doctrine.
When I’m out in nature, I feel a sincere gratitude and genuine appreciation for God. When I’m reading my Bible, participating in Bible studies, and studying scripture I feel a strong appreciation for God that’s grounded in truth.
Spirit without truth leads to a cursory, sensational experience. Truth without spirit can result in an empty, emotionless experience.
To worship God in spirit and truth involves loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30, NIV).
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Want to go deeper into God’s Word? You’ll find this story—and many others that bring clarity to challenging passages—in What Does It Mean?: Exploring Biblical Truths About Difficult Scripture, available on Amazon.