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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Weary (05/03/12)
“Hey, Pete, wait up”, yelled Brent, leaving his car to enter their workplace at Bank of America.

“Howdy, Brent. What are you so chipper about?”

“I’m on fire! God’s just really speaking to me, lately.”

“I sure can’t say the same. I’m in the dull drums. I remember when I first met the Lord. Everything seemed so exciting and new. Now it’s a chore to open my Bible and every sermon bores me. In fact, all of life seems senseless.”

“Well, I think it is easy to get that way. But the things I’ve been learning seem to be just the thing that could pep you up. I’d love to share them. Can we meet in the lunch room at noon?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Great see you, then.”

Four hours later: Pete arrived in the lunchroom and Brent motioned for his friend to be seated as he flipped open his Bible. “I was reading in John four. You know, the famous passage about Jesus talking to the woman at the well.”

“Yeah, sure do. That is more of the same old stuff. I thought you were going to teach me something new.”

“Now, hold on a minute. There are always new things you can learn from any passage. God’s Word is alive and fresh all the time. Let’s look at this. The woman questioned Jesus about why the Jews insisted that Jerusalem was the only place to worship. Jesus replied, ‘…the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24 NLT)’.”

Brent continued “What really hit me between the eyes is the fact that the Father is actually looking for certain types of worshipers. Can you imagine Almighty God looking for worshipers?”

Pete shrugged, “No, I can’t say that I can.”

“So if the Father wants a certain type of worshiper, then I want to be that type. It says He wants those who will worship him in spirit and truth. What do you suppose that means?”

“It means to worship Him sincerely,” Pete responded confidently.

“I use to think that too, but then I noticed that the passage said, ‘the time is coming-indeed it is now here- when true worshipers…’ So up to this time no one had worshiped in spirit and truth. Don’t you think Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah and a lot of other Old Testament saints worshiped sincerely?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Then what could it means to worship in Spirit and Truth”?

“We can often find answers to our questions by looking carefully at the passage. Notice Verse twenty-four. It tells us that worshiping in spirit and truth has to do with the fact that Jesus is Spirit. None of the Old Testament saints had the Spirit dwelling inside them but we do and can draw on him to help us in our worship. As we depend on Jesus, He enlivens the Word for us. We can’t do it for our self. If God is Spirit and He wants us to worship him in Spirit then we are dependent on Him for such worship. He is the only one who has Spirit to give.”

“I have to admit. That is interesting. Perhaps that’s why I’ve grown so weary. I've just been going through the motions rather than looking to Jesus to enliven me. I have a feeling now, that I might be able to get back some of that excitement I experienced when I was first saved. I think I’ll have a quiet time tonight for the first time in a long time. I’m going to start off by meditating on this verse and asking the Lord to show me more of what it means to worship in Spirit and truth.”

Brent was grinning broadly. “That’s what it takes. There is more to this type of worship than we can fully take in at first. But as we accept it by faith and lean on the Holy Spirit, He teaches us more.”

“wow, I'm feeling energized. I can hardly wait to get home and get alone with Jesus.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/10/12
This is a lovely piece and a nice take on the topic. It's true that people can become spirituality weary.

You had some little minor things to tweak like a capital at the beginning of a quote and doldrums instead of dull drums, though I kind of like that it makes a visual picture that makes the points.

You did a nice job with this and the dialog feels more natural. Keep writing those stories that God puts on your heart. :)
C D Swanson 
05/12/12
I loved this! And I loved the ending. Great job and wonderful way of presenting the topic in an ingengious fashion, while bringing forth a powerful message.

Thank you.

God bless,

Camille~