“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." -- Matthew 23:23-24

The story is told about a coastal life saving station that saved a great many lives every year. As time passed the station became famous and efforts were made to buy better equipment and build a bigger building. The volunteers continued to give much time and energy to improve the looks and quality of the station. It eventually became more beautiful than any other station with more volunteers than ever. With all the activity focused on the station itself, one thing ceased to happen; saving lives. They lost their focus.

Within this passage we read strong words of rebuke from Jesus. He was greatly displeased with the leaders of Israel at that time. They were determined to follow the very fine details of the law with tremendous diligence. They were caught up in the technicalities of the law to such a degree that they forgot the more important matters of justice, mercy and faithfulness. They lost their focus.

It's easy for us to become so obsessive about small microscopic issues that we forget the greater matters and why we are called of God. Some believers are determined to do church the right way and make it look and sound better than any other. In the process they lose sight of the reason the church exists: to save souls. Please be careful my friend, in your drive to do the very best for Jesus, that you don't lose HIS focus... "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them..." (Matthew 9:36)