“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift… go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
The worship band launches into the next song, one of your favorites. You normally get into it, but today you stand, arms folded. Your head is bowed as though you’re praying, but you’re not. You’re steamed. THEY are here, two rows over. How dare they show up at church after what they said! Your brain rehashes the scene while everyone around you lifts their hands and voices in worship. How can you think about God right now when those people are over there? They said you wronged them, but you don’t think so. Maybe a little, but it was no big deal. So you stand there, ruining worship and your day over that “no big deal.”
Jesus said there’s a better way. He told us that when we come before Him to worship and offer gifts, we must first clear our conscience. Notice the interesting way He phrased this command. He did not say if your brother DID something to you; He said if your brother has something AGAINST you. Some fights were not our doing, so we can’t fix them. But when we know we have hurt someone, it’s on us to make it right. We can’t force them to forgive us, but it’s our job to seek reconciliation by humbling ourselves. Only then can we enter wholeheartedly into worship. Only then will God accept our offerings.
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