Daily Devotions
Leave Your Gift At the Altar
Reading for January 13: Genesis 42-43
Weekly reading for January 7-13: Matthew 5-9
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
"I just can't worship there anymore."
We hear as a justification by some who leave to go worship elsewhere. The discord they feel in the church has become so great that they feel the only option they have left is to move to another congregation.
This is not always an option though. The next closest congregation for some is miles and miles away, so what happens is a different sort of separation. They just avoid those who have caused them trouble.
It is true that separation can lead to peace (in a sense). You can't argue when you don't talk. The problem is that Jesus hasn't given us that luxury. We cannot divorce ourselves from our spiritual family.
"But when I'm around that person I really can't worship at all," one may protest. Jesus only response would be to say you can't worship anywhere without first trying to reconcile.
Jesus would tell us that we do not even need to worry about worship. We shouldn't engage in even one act of worship before we've picked up the phone and called, or gone across the auditorium to talk to the person we've offended or who has offended us.
God desires mercy, not sacrifice.
Father, may we come before your presence this morning with clean hands and pure hearts so that you might accept our sacrifice to you.
