Faith in Focus #33
A reflection from Connection Church and other spiritual events from the week
Faith in Focus is a weekly reflection on what God has been teaching me throughout the week regarding my faith. Whether it’s personal interactions, reading, or the Sunday sermon, God speaks through it all, and I hope this helps you focus on His mission.
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Sermon Reflection
Psalm 50 reminds us that God isn’t impressed by outward religious performance divorced from genuine faith. Before judgment comes an invitation to repent, to abandon transactional religion, and to rediscover the joy of walking with the God who desires our hearts.
Based on the sermon by Traye LaMere, Connection Church Sioux Falls, June 21, 2026.
The Difference Between Knowing God and Knowing About God
Few things are more sobering than the realization that it’s possible to look religious while being spiritually distant from God. We can attend church, volunteer, memorize Scripture, give generously, and still miss the very relationship those practices were meant to cultivate.
This week at Connection Church, Deacon Traye LeMere guided us through Psalm 50, a psalm often titled “God Himself Is Judge.” Rather than focusing primarily on the fascinating literary placement of Psalm 50 among the Psalms of Asaph, the sermon centered on the heart of God’s warning to His people. It’s a message that remains just as relevant today as when Asaph first penned these words.
Psalm 50 presents God as the righteous Judge. Yet what unfolds isn’t merely a courtroom drama. It’s a gracious warning before the verdict is finalized. God exposes empty religion not because He delights in condemnation, but because He desires repentance.
The World Behind the Text
Psalm 50 opens with a majestic picture of God’s authority.
“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” (Psalm 50:1, ESV)
God gathers His covenant people before Him. At first glance it appears they’re being commended for faithfully bringing sacrifices. But God quickly reveals that sacrifices were never the issue.
“I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.” (Psalm 50:9, ESV)
The Lord reminds Israel that every animal already belongs to Him. He has no need for their offerings because He owns all creation.
The problem was never the sacrifices themselves. The problem was that the people believed their religious activity somehow obligated God while their hearts remained far from Him.
The sacrifices had become transactional instead of relational.
Walking the Passage
One of the most challenging moments of the sermon came when Traye contrasted two groups of people using Jesus’ own words.
The first group comes from Matthew 7:21-23. These are people who appear incredibly faithful. They prophesy, perform miracles, cast out demons, and point to all the impressive things they’ve done for God.
Yet Jesus responds with devastating words.
“And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:23, ESV)
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say He never knew about them. He says He never knew them.
The issue is relationship.
The second group comes from Matthew 25:41-46. These individuals consistently rejected Christ throughout their lives. When judgment arrives, Jesus simply confirms the separation they had already chosen.
Traye illustrated this distinction with a scene from The Godfather. In the film, people approach the powerful Don Corleone only when they need something. They ignore the relationship until life falls apart, then suddenly seek justice and favor.
That picture is uncomfortable because it often mirrors our own hearts.
How often do we seek God only after exhausting every worldly solution?
How often do we pursue success, comfort, relationships, finances, or control first, only turning to Christ when everything else disappoints?
Even as believers, we can subtly drift into treating prayer like customer service instead of communion with our Father.
We want God’s blessings without always desiring God’s presence.
Psalm 50 lovingly exposes that tendency.
God isn’t interested in being our last resort. He desires to be our greatest treasure.
A Fair Counter-Reading
Some readers may wonder whether Psalm 50 teaches that sacrifices and acts of worship are unimportant. That would miss the larger biblical picture.
Throughout the Old Testament, God Himself instituted the sacrificial system. Likewise, throughout the New Testament, believers are repeatedly called to gather, serve, pray, give generously, and obey Christ.
The issue is never faithful obedience.
The issue is believing that external obedience can replace inward devotion.
Jesus echoed this same concern when He quoted Isaiah.
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8, ESV)
Biblical faith has always united both right worship and right hearts.
The Turn
Perhaps the most encouraging truth from Psalm 50 is that it’s not the final verdict.
Near the end of the psalm comes an invitation.
“Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:22-23, ESV)
The warning comes before the judgment.
God calls His people back while there’s still time.
Even more beautiful is what immediately follows with Psalm 51 recording David’s prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba.
That placement is no accident.
Psalm 50 confronts.
Psalm 51 confesses.
God’s warning always leaves room for grace.
The Gospel follows the same pattern.
Our sin is fully exposed, but Christ has already borne the judgment we deserve. Through His death and resurrection, repentance is no longer simply turning away from sin. It’s turning toward the Savior who welcomes sinners with open arms.
The Judge has also become our Redeemer.
Carry It Into the Week
Psalm 50 invites us to examine our own hearts.
Do we pursue Jesus because we love Him, or because we hope He will give us what we want?
Do we trust Him only after every worldly solution has failed?
Are our prayers conversations with our Father, or merely requests when life becomes difficult?
None of us gets this perfectly right.
Every one of us has moments where our relationship with Christ becomes transactional. We drift toward self reliance, then remember God when our plans collapse.
Thankfully, Psalm 50 doesn’t leave us in despair.
It points us toward repentance.
Like David in Psalm 51, we can confess our sin, receive God’s mercy, and begin walking closely with Him once again.
May we never settle for knowing about Jesus while failing to truly know Him.
May we seek His heart before His hand.
May we treasure the relationship made possible through the Gospel above every blessing He gives.
Because in the end, the greatest gift God offers isn’t simply justice, forgiveness, or provision.
It’s Himself.
Song of the Week: Good - Matthew West
Matthew West’s “Good” has some of the most hopeful words that remind me of the truth of God’s love, and I’m here for it. If I’m ever feeling down about not being good enough, or wrestling with the feeling of failure that so often comes from the culture of the world, the end of the chorus speaks truth that completely dismantles that mindset, “I’m not loved because I’m worthy, I’m loved because You’re good.” What a powerful reminder. The world constantly tells us that our value is tied to our performance, our accomplishments, our appearance, or how much we can contribute. If we succeed, we feel valuable. If we fail, we feel worthless. But the Gospel operates on an entirely different foundation.
God’s love for us has never been based on our ability to earn it. If it were, none of us would qualify. Scripture tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. His love is rooted in His character, not our performance. That means our worst mistakes can’t make Him love us less, and our greatest achievements can’t make Him love us more. His mercy isn’t a reward for good behavior. It’s a gift given through grace to those who place their faith in Christ. The cross settled that once and for all.
The second half of the song also points listeners toward one of the most relatable passages in all of Scripture when Paul writes in Romans 7:15-20 about his battle with sin. Paul openly admits that he often does the very things he hates and fails to do the things he knows he should. It’s an honest confession that everyone can identify with. No matter how long we’ve followed Christ, there are still moments when we stumble, fall into temptation, or choose selfishness over obedience. Sin has a way of disrupting our intentions and pulling us away from the life God desires for us.
Yet the beauty of the Gospel is found in those two simple words. But mercy. Paul’s struggle in Romans 7 isn’t the end of the story. Romans 8 immediately follows with the incredible declaration that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Even when we fail, God’s mercy meets us there. Even when we stumble, His grace is sufficient. The enemy wants us to sit in shame and believe that our failures define us, but God continually reminds us that our identity is found in Christ, not in our inevitable mistakes.
That doesn’t mean sin is excused or ignored. Rather, it means that when we repent and turn back to Him, we’re met with forgiveness instead of rejection. God’s mercy removes the crushing weight of shame and replaces it with the assurance that we’re still His children. We’re still loved. We’re still redeemed. We’re still being transformed by His grace.
That is why this song resonates with me. It points me away from myself and back to the goodness of God. On the days when we feel like we have everything together and on the days when we feel like we’re falling apart, the truth remains the same, that we’re not loved because we’re worthy. We’re loved because He is good. And that truth never changes.
Week in Reflection
This week truly felt like summer had finally arrived. Between spending more time outdoors and gathering with our Bible study for our monthly summer gathering, there was a refreshing change of pace that seemed to invite both rest and reflection. There really are no words that fully capture the beauty of God’s creation when you step away from the distractions of everyday life and simply experience it. Whether it’s taking in the sights and sounds of a hike or sitting in a backyard surrounded by friends, laughter, and conversation, there were countless reminders of God’s handiwork all around.
It’s amazing how often we rush through life without noticing the world God has placed us in. The colors of a sunset, the vastness of the sky, the intricate details of trees and flowers, and even the simple joy of a warm summer evening all point back to a Creator who delights in beauty. We live on a planet filled with wonders that many of us rarely stop to appreciate. Spending time outside this week reminded me that creation itself is an act of worship, constantly declaring God’s glory whether we pay attention to it or not. Sometimes the best way to reconnect with the Lord is simply to slow down long enough to notice what He’s already placed right in front of us.
Another interesting reflection came from an unexpected source this week. A friend and I went to the new movie Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg. The premise centers around the existence of extraterrestrial life and what would happen if that reality were announced to the world. While the science fiction elements were entertaining, what stuck with me most was a conversation in the film about faith. One character struggles with how the possibility of aliens would fit into their belief in God. Another character responds by pointing out that Genesis is focused on God’s relationship with humanity and life on Earth, not necessarily every corner of the universe. The discussion then raises a fascinating question. Why would God create an unimaginably vast cosmos if Earth was the only place inhabited by intelligent life?
It’s one of those conversations that doesn’t necessarily have a definitive answer, but it’s interesting to think about. The sheer size of the universe certainly inspires wonder and humility. Yet the more I reflected on it, the more I realized that the existence or nonexistence of extraterrestrial life has no impact on the foundation of my faith. My belief rests on who God is, what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection, and the truth revealed in Scripture. If one day humanity discovers intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, God will still be God. Jesus will still be King. The Gospel will still be true.
In some ways, the discussion reminded me just how small we are in the grand scope of creation and yet how deeply loved we are by the Creator of it all. Whether we are alone in the universe or one part of a much larger story, the reality remains the same that God created all things, sustains all things, and has provided salvation through Christ. That’s a truth that doesn’t change based on scientific discoveries or unanswered questions. While it can be fun to speculate about what might be out there among the stars, my confidence ultimately rests in the One who created the stars themselves.
And always remember, God loves you, and so do I.
Connection Church in Sioux Falls is a gospel-centered community committed to helping people follow Jesus through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and everyday mission. Rooted in historic Christian belief and aligned with gospel renewal movements, the church exists to see lives transformed by Jesus. Learn more: https://siouxfallsconnection.com/who-we-are
