"I don't really have faith. Does God receive worship without truth and spirit?"
Some people answered her as if God received our worship only if it was in truth and spirit.
I felt the need to chime in because I felt like their answers may push the lady further away and potentially close her door to the gospel.
I just helped her imagine God is a compassionate God, a loving God. God knows not everyone is going to worship God in spirit and truth 100% all the time. Can anyone really attest to that?
Romans 3:23
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Nobody is perfect. But we try. Because this is a marathon. In the long run, if we stay in the race long enough, our weaknesses are masked, and our strengths highlighted.
Slowly but surely, our faith must grow in spirit and truth. We may have ups and downs, and struggle in rollercoaster life, but our foundation must not be shaken and our hearts not cast in doubt.
1 John 3:1-3
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:11
...not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
If our heart is good and pure, God will love to receive our worship. In time, as we grow and mature, we must not be slothful in zeal, but be fervent in spirit! Always trying harder to worship God in spirit and truth.
John Piper:
In God’s mind, fervency, zeal, or passion aren’t descriptions of how emotive we are. They’re gauges that display what our heart treasures, and therefore what fuels our lives. Just like God is far more impressed by sincere prayers in secret than longwinded public prayers (Matthew 6:5–6), he is far more impressed (or not) by what truly enthralls us than by any outward emotional exhibition. For what enthralls us determines how we prioritize our lives.
Frequently the zeal we need most is the zeal to repent (Revelation 3:19).
Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my zeal to do your will and my urgency to make the best use of my time during these evil days. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Misc. thoughts:
Liken God to a dog owner who brings in stray dogs and shelter dogs. The owner has big heart and big house. The owner has room to receive hundreds and thousands of dogs. Because of his compassion and his love for the dogs, he will care for all the dogs, even if they are sick and weary. Even the dogs that are unable to wag their tales and play with the owner.
God loves us just as the way we are. In our weaknesses and in our brokenness God loves us and cares for us. God will take us in with open hearts even if we are unable to be joyful in our worship. God will be glad because we are in his house.
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