Read: Colossians 3:14-17

“What do you think of this one?” Sofie asked her older sister. Kara was helping her choose an outfit to wear for her school pictures the next day.

“Why don’t you pick something simpler?” Kara suggested. “Remember, Mom said you have to pick clothes without too bold of a pattern so they will look good in the picture.”

Sofie slid the shirt on the hanger and hung it back up in her closet. “Okay.”

“So, how was Sunday school this morning?” Kara asked as she searched through the clothes hanging in Sofie’s closet.

Sofie shrugged. “All right, I guess. I just wish it was more exciting.”

Kara frowned. “I thought you enjoyed Sunday school.”

“I do. I just wish there was more time for games and playing with my friends. Maybe then we would have more kids come to church!”

“I know it can be hard to sit,” Kara said. “And the teachers do their best to make the lessons fun. But sometimes you can get so focused on playing games and seeing your friends that you miss what God wants to teach you.”

“What do you mean?” Sofie asked.

“Well, it’s like your school pictures. If you wear a shirt with a busy pattern, the people who see the picture will focus on your clothes instead of being focused on your beautiful smile.”

“So is playing games with my friends bad?”

Kara pulled another shirt, a pale blue one, out of the closet. “No. It just shouldn’t distract you from the real reason we go to church—to worship Jesus with other Christians and learn about what He tells us in the Bible.” She held the shirt up against Sofie, studying it. “See? It’s like this shirt. It brings out the blue in your eyes without distracting people from what they’re supposed to be looking at.”

“My face!” Sofie smiled. “I get it. We go to church to worship and learn about Jesus, and I should be focusing on Him.” She took the blue shirt from Kara. “You know what? I think I like this one.”

Kara grinned. “Just remember, the most important thing is to wear a smile!”

–Jessica Kleeberger

How about you? What do you focus on when you go to church? It can be fun to play games, do crafts, and visit with friends, but we shouldn’t let that distract us from the real reason we go to church—to learn about Jesus and worship Him. Praying, singing songs, and reading the Bible are all ways we worship Jesus and learn more about Him together. When you go to church, focus on Him.

Today's Key Verse: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus at church