A few weeks ago I wrote a poem based on John 4, the story of the woman at the well.
John 4:20-24 says:
“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
My heart behind writing this was to focus on this part of the story because I feel like it’s a part that people don’t talk about as much but also is SO relatable as Jesus shows her a piece of his heart in pointing out the difference between religion and relationship.
So here ya go, praying it helps someone relate to the scripture!
The father is seeking such people to worship Him
But people such as who?
People who do, all the right things?
Who show up at the right place at the right time,
Who go to the big church and know all the lines,
People who dress the right way and are the right kind.
People who look the part,
Not people like me, falling apart.
They don’t say it with their voice, but they say it with their eyes
They look, but they don’t see how hard I try
As they stare at my clothes and my hair and my skin
They sell me the lie once again—
You don’t belong here.
It stung and it burned but that’s when I heard
The sweet voice of my father,
Saying you, yes you, are my chosen daughter
I’m seeking such people to worship me
People who come running, yearning to be set free
People who worship in spirit and in truth
All around the world, in both dirty streets and church booths
They’ll try to deceive you, tell you it’s not true
That’s what Satan would have you to believe, and them too
But I see your heart, I even see your sin
I see your pain and the darkness that lies within
People may point and whisper and call you a whore
But honestly, I’ve never loved anyone more
So for you, my dear, I’ll spare a little clue:
Those worshipers? They were always meant to include people like you.
The truth is, they were wrong:
you’ve always belonged.
Thanks Papa for opening up the opportunity for sweet, intimate relationship with you. Thank you for loving humility over perfection. Thank you for loving our hearts over our past or our reputation. I love you a lot.
Amen and amen my friends. Love y’all a million.
Alley
