The scribes and Pharisees (religious leaders) of Jesus's day were very studious and religious about the things of God, but they didn't have a clue who God really was.  Imagine that, in the synagogue day in and day out, settling legal matters among the people, "taking care of the temple of God," but didn't know God, or how to serve Him with a pure heart.  If they had known Him, they would have worshiped God in Spirit and in truth. 

Jesus said, "They will put you out of the synagogue, yes, the time will come that whoever kills you will think he does God a service; and they will do these things to you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me" John 16:2-3.  The scribes and the Pharisees knew the letter of God's law like nobody else, but they missed the whole point on knowing who God really is.  They were the religious leaders of His day, but they actually crucified Jesus because they didn't know who He was. 

King David had a heart after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14); but many people would have thought he broke God's commandment, a strict temple ordinance, when he and his men were hungry and he took the "shewbread" from the temple and ate it (1 Samuel 21).  This bread was forbidden to anyone, but the priests, who had gone through a process of purification before entering the temple of God.  Albeit, when the Pharisees saw Jesus and His disciples eating corn in the field, without washing their hands - and on the sabbath day no less - they told Jesus that He and His disciples were breaking the law!  Jesus said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those that were with him, how he entered into the house of God and ate the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?" Matthew 12:3-4.  Jesus went on to say, "The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day" Matthew 12:8. 

This was all a "type and shadow" of things to come; how that today we can worship God in Spirit and in truth, and we are not under the strict laws and ordinances of the "temple."  This was just a prelude of the Savior to come and an example of how God extends the deep, secret and holy things of God to everyone who will come, with a pure heart, and take of the "shewbread" freely.  They were hungry, so they ate!

Are you hungry for more than just a holiday visit to the cathedral, or more than just a religious Sunday in church with the family?  Serving the living God is the furthest thing from boring, if you really know who God is and how to serve Him in the true Spirit of worship.  It is not a formality - three songs, take up an offering and a 30-minute sermon on Sundays, holidays, or both.  Walking in the presence of God at all times, every minute of every day, is something God invites His people to do, if their hearts desire to do so.  Please don't misunderstand, I am not putting down church attendance, as long as the Spirit of God and liberty are there.  Sadly, there are many churches throughout the world today where the Spirit of the living God is not present and there is no liberty.  The Bible says, "...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Have you ever had a green plant which hadn't bloomed, so it only had green leaves all the time?  I purchased some type of a green plant for my son's turtle's habitat.  It had a lot of green leaves and I bought it because I thought the turtle would enjoy the green leaves and even the shade it provided at times.  After a while, it suddenly bloomed the most beautiful white flowers!  I was very surprised because I didn't know it would bud flowers when I purchased it, and then when the flowers bloomed, they were gorgeous. 

Serving God in Spirit and truth is like when the plant suddenly blooms beautiful flowers, that you didn't even know were there.  Are you surrounded only by leafy green day in and day out?  I would like to invite you to come to know the Lord like you have possibly never known Him before.  He is the same miracle-working God today that He was in ancient times, as when Moses crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 14), as when Daniel walked out of the lions den (Daniel 6), because God had shut the hungry lions' mouths, as when Peter walked on the water to get to Jesus (Matthew 14). 

It's a daily walk, minute by minute, with God; and what really intensifies this experience is being filled with the Holy Ghost, as described in Acts chapter 2. 

If you are weary of religious ordinances and you want to come to a real understanding of who God is and how he works in the lives of those whose hearts are sincere before Him, pray and search God's Word every day for truth.  The Bible says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, who does not upbraid, and it will be given to him" James 1:5.  You only need to ask and pray, then search.  If you do, if you search for God will all of your heart, I guarantee you will find Him - God's Word says you will! 

The Word of God says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9. 

If you aren't saved and you desire to know who God is, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  You will find Him, when you seek for Him with all of your heart.  God bless you.