Not Where or When, But How and Who

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February 17, 2026

Not Where or When, But How and Who

February 17, 2026 by JODIE PINE WORSHIPING GOD Connecting with nationals Identity in Christ Seeing & not seeing fruit Reflecting God

by JODIE PINE

“Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers.”

John 4:21b

Sometimes, it seems, we’re not asking the right questions.

Like the Samaritan woman, who questioned Jesus to find out whether the Jews or Samaritans had it “right” regarding their place of worship, we can easily take on a similar us/them mentality.

We’re in so you’re out.

We’re right so you’re wrong.

We’re good so you’re bad.

And sometimes those clear and tidy boxes don’t actually serve us well at all.

Reading the Gospels we find that Jesus was committed to breaking down arrogant and divisive boxes regarding who was in and who was out. We discover that He was all about creating new paradigms and, in so doing, blowing people’s minds. No wonder some people hated Him while others loved Him.

To those, like the Samaritan woman, who had been told they didn’t have a place in God’s Kingdom, Jesus offered a surprising message:

“Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers.” (John 4:21b)

The issue was not whether anyone else believed that she belonged, because she was a Samaritan and even “worse,” a woman who’d had five husbands and was currently living with a man to whom she was not married. The real issue, Jesus said, was having the truthful heart of a worshiper.

The rest of her story, that picks back up after Jesus addresses His baffled disciples, answers that question for us:

“Meanwhile, because one woman shared with her neighbors how Jesus exposed her past and present, the village of Sychar was transformed—many Samaritans heard and believed. The Samaritans approached Jesus and repeatedly invited Him to stay with them, so He lingered there for two days on their account. With the words that came from His mouth, there were many more believing Samaritans. They began their faith journey because of the testimony of the woman beside the well; but when they heard for themselves, they were convinced the One they were hearing was and is God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, sent to rescue the entire world.” (John 4:39-42)

Maybe, then, the more important questions than where or when regarding our worship are

How am I worshiping,

Who am I worshiping?

And even, Is my truthful worship helping to draw others toward Jesus or is it keeping them out?

Closing Prayer

“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” (Ephesians 2:14, NLT) “He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:7-10, NIV) Amen.

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