In my travels around the world, I have visited many places of worship — places that are considered holy, or sacred. Israel had its sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem. Each year, there were three festivals for worshiping God; attendance required! {Deuteronomy 16.16]
Israel had its sacred place, but so did the Samaritans. In a conversation with a Samaritan women, the subject of a designated place of worship was brought up. She commented to Jesus, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain [Gerizim], and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” [John 4.20].
In His response, Jesus redirected her from a place of worship, to the person of worship, “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” [4.23].
Gerizim and Jerusalem were no longer to be considered an imperative. True worship now consisted of approaching the Father in spirit and in truth — Truthfully. Wholeheartedly. Going forward, it would not be the sacredness of places of worship, it would be the holiness of the worshipers that mattered.
That’s why worship, for a true believer, is not merely a few hours spent in a building each week. It’s living a godly life 24/7 [1 Peter 1.15-16].
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3.17
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