David knew that God dwells in the midst of our worship [Psalm 22:3]. The Lord reminded us through Isaiah [Isaiah 57:15] that He “dwells with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” In John 4:23 Jesus informed us “ true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” But we, as often happens, stopped listening too soon, for Jesus continues, “the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” Recently at the revival underway at Asbury University (and also in over 200 schools and universities) one speaker called the devotion and worship that was now in its third week (as of this writing) with persons from around the country and the world gravitating—almost like a pilgrimage—to the campus chapel to participate—he called it—
“in elevating Jesus Christ as a focal point, a radical humility, humanizing compassion, raw confession, a self emptying consecration and a life altering commitment.”
It was the contrite heart the prophet described experienced by a generation (generation z) of young hearts losing interest in everything except to celebrate the Savior’s Death and Resurrection, The Father’s Love, and the Spirit’s Presence. Many were meeting Jesus for the first time even without the evangelist’s convincing rhetoric or inspirational words. It was the Spirit alone doing the talking and calling. Another speaker called it
“normal Christianity, why Jesus died.”
I was informed by a friend that this was happening on Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal College and University campuses. I recall Jesus’ prayer [John 17:23] for unity. It is being answered! The speaker then referenced James 3:17 as a description of what was happening—and is happening.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy”
Jesus explained in Luke 17:21 “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
In the midst of all this, one could envision God, perhaps with cherubim attending [Ezekiel 10:3] walking, strolling, joyously, between the rows of worshippers, touching hearts, saving souls, healing bodies, doing God’s thing God’s way, loving a generation who wanted Him almost as much as He wanted them. “He seeks such…”
A Woman at The Well
Jesus corrected a woman desperate for love, hungry for a peace that would calm the storm in her soul. The Father seeks such, and this Samaritan woman was thirsty for love. In her desperation and need, Jesus brought her to another well, saying,
“whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” [John 4:14].
She discovered what generation Z was discovering in Asbury Kentucky that Jesus is the source of an unending joy and peace, a stream of living water that eternally quenches the thirst for meaning, for belonging, for love. God is not a religion but a most personal and intimate, loving, God who has been waiting for His opportunity to enter our lives with an eternity of promises [2 Peter 1:4], like a bridegroom with gifts anticipating the wedding [Song of Solomon 1:4].
Our worship should not, cannot end, because the God we worship is eternal and He will never tire of our love and fellowship. God created us for this moment, for this purpose, for this eternity. His love sought us to have us back ever since that day in Eden when Adam did what Adam did—and we in him.
“He seeks such.” Jesus said. And this is what everything is all about. This was why God created Adam. This is why Jesus went to the Cross. This is why He saved us. “He seeks such.” As the song writer wrote, “Take joy my King in what you hear; let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.” As the chorus is sung, “To worship You, I live to worship You, I live, I live. To worship You.”
Indeed, this all made available through the Savior’s death—from God’s perspective—yes—a most reasonable salvation.