As Christians, what is our focus in our walk? Do we go out and try and recruit new members to our church? Has the church become your God? Do you attend church to show others that you are a Christian and live a Christian life?

When I first decided to attend the last church I joined, I called the pastor and asked about their hours. He was very polite and asked my name and said he would greet me. I was single at the time, so it was just me attending. I was a “Christian” already, but was looking for a different church, as the church I originally attended when I became a Christian was in a different city and a different denomination. Upon attending that day, the Pastor invited me to a church picnic. It was a beautiful day; it was the first time I had apple pizza. I found everyone easy to speak to, of course they all introduced themselves and I am terrible with names, so only remembered a few. During the time I was attending, I was invited by church members out to lunch about every Sabbath. I later became Baptised and joined the church and the invitations seemed to drop off. I was being schmoozed by the membership as that was the focus. It did not matter to me so much as I was not really a social butterfly, but it might to others. The same thing seems to happen to new members at other churches. It was the same when I first became a Christian. Churches hold all kinds of functions to increase their memberships, whether it is dinners for Thanksgiving or Christmas, bazaars, and some churches even have Bingo. There are a few churches that have their focus set in the right direction, on God, but for many, membership is their focus.

The reason I am writing this is not to admonish the many churches for this behaviour, but to ask that they change their focus. When bringing people into their churches to focus on God. Jesus ministered to the needs of the people that came to him in the crowds. If you change your focus to the people that come to rather than your needs, the Lord will bless you. It is a simple thing to do. As a church family, pray, “Lord guide us on how we can meet the needs of the community and surrounding areas.” The Lord will lead you and bless you as a church.

As individuals, we should also pray, “Lord guide us so we can we meet the needs of our neighbours.”

1 Corinthians Chapter 13:4-5 – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Hebrews Chapter 12:1-2 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Luke 10:27 – And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.