It seems more and more as I continue in my ministry that people focus more on trivial things than the matter at hand.

I certainly will be the first one to say that the building needs to be clean and things need to be in order to please God, but what do we think really pleases God? What really matters?

I believe the scriptural answer will be more than sufficient. Paul, in writing to Titus in Chapter 3, verses 1-9, encourages Titus to be careful about what he teaches and doesn’t teach. He begins with admission that he, along with others, were at one time weak but have since then become true followers of Christ.

He teaches us that our righteousness is not of ourselves but is because of mercy. It is by this mercy that we are saved. Verses 3-5 concerns the washing of regeneration; the blood of Jesus cleanses us white as snow. It is the renewing of the Holy Spirit time after time that encourages us to do the right thing.

Jesus said, Oh, death where is your sting; Oh grave where is your victory. When we see these words of encouragement, it always reminds us how fortunate we are to have an opportunity to do something for God.

May I suggest that we focus a little more clearly on real issues and stop worrying about trivial matters. We must be concerned for lost souls and problems that have plagued us in the church. We need to get rid of apathy from our congregations and renew ourselves with the wonder of salvation. We also need to remind ourselves that our soul is just as saved now as it was when we came up out of that glorious water of baptism.

Our hope is just as great and Heaven is just as marvelous as it has ever been. Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 we should not be conformed to the world but be conformed by the renewing of our mind! The Bible is still sharper than any two-sided sword and able to pierce the most intimate part of us, as it is a discerner of the soul and heart.

So the next time you come to church on Sunday morning and the first thing you notice is something out of place, I hope you realize it is your motivation for being there. I will choose to be more concerned with the hearts of the people here and hope they have already decided what kind of day it will be before they even arrive. This is a day that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Just remember to recognize what a glorious privilege it is to be able to come and worship with those of like precious faith.