Are We Walking in Truth?

We all know the difference between telling a lie and walking in truth.  Yet sometimes the line between the two becomes blurred.  We may excuse the little compromises, and “white lies,” or the things we tell ourselves are not important, but God does not look at truth the way the world does.

Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” — John 4:24

What does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth?  It means our worship must be real.

It cannot simply be words we speak, songs we sing, or a holiness we display for others to see.  True worship comes from within.  It begins in the heart and is reflected in the way we live.

1 John 2:4 says, “If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.”

Those are strong words.

We can say we love God.  We can speak His name.  We can worship with our lips.  We can even look holy to everyone around us.  But if our lives continually contradict what we claim to believe, what are we really saying?

Jesus made it simple: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

There is no façade with God.

People may see what we choose to show them, but God sees what is underneath.  He sees the heart.  He knows our motives.  He knows the thoughts we never speak aloud and the compromises no one else knows about.  And perhaps the hardest person to be honest with is ourselves.

We can become so accustomed to compromise that we no longer recognize it for what it is.  We can allow the world to influence our thoughts, our words, and our behavior while still proclaiming, “I love God.”  But are we walking in truth?

God is not looking for a performance.  He is looking for a heart that is genuine before Him.

At the end of the day, the choice is ours.  Truth or compromise.  Obedience or disobedience.  Genuine faith or a façade of holiness. 

We may fool others.  We may even fool ourselves.  But we will never fool God.  He sees beyond the words.  He sees the heart.  And He knows whether our worship is truly in spirit and truth.

Written by,

Papa Boyd