Sometimes looking back at the past is not very pleasant. At other times it seems like the best days of our lives occurred long ago. I don’t like to spend too much time looking back but it is important that we so every now and then. It helps us to understand where we need to go in the future.

One thing I want us to work on in the New Year is our corporate worship. As I look back over the last several years I think it is safe to say that we haven’t been as good at corporate worship as we could be. One of the key indicators for me is to look at where our focus is.

There is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes we focus on ourselves and our own needs. At other times we focus on others and we think of their needs as we lift them up in prayer. But worship is focusing on God and giving Him the honor and glory He deserves. Sometimes we are so distracted by our needs or the needs of others that we don’t really focus on Him. I want to work at changing that in the future.

As Christians we often complain about a world that believes in the motto “If it feels good do it.” I would suggest that is exactly the approach Christians often take when it comes to worship. We don’t like the discipline that is required to do what we really ought to do so we do what we like to do instead. Of course, we also tend to find ways to justify our tastes to bring legitimacy to them.

The Bible tells us the story of Mary and Martha. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping out. Instead Mary is spending her time with Jesus. Jesus reminds Martha that Mary has chosen the best. Focusing on Jesus is the best thing we can do.

Let’s not lose sight of the best because we are too focused on the good.

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