Matthew 5:23-24

New Living Translation

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

For meditation

How would you feel when you dance in church, praising the Lord, and you see a brother you have offended staring at you? 

This question attempts to review acceptable offering as proper worship. It seeks to guide us, when we offend others, to find forgiveness so we can find joy in our worship. Since nothing we do in life is outside worship, we must seek to make holiness a priority. No one offers water to a king with dirty hands and a filthy glass. Our hearts and hands must always be pure. When someone holds a grudge against us for something we know about, we must take care of it before we come with our offering to God. 

Every one of us has offended somebody and strained a relationship at one time or another. We should know that God can accept our worship only when we have reconciled to the person we have offended. 

The spiritual condition of the person bringing an offering to God is just as essential as the condition of the offering itself. 

Jesus spoke about this in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:22-24).We have to make sure that our hearts are right with God when we bring our offering to Him. He said we must reconcile with the person who has something against us before coming to present our offering to God.

It is not about offering in church alone. It includes our prayers, our service, and coming to the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). Since forgiveness cleanses us, reconciliation becomes a necessary prerequisite to an acceptable offering. If you are therefore praising God and sees a brother you have offended, Jesus says, stop! Get reconciled to that person, then come back and continue with your dance.

Why?

Because God is holy, those who come before Him must consecrate themselves before coming to Him. The most challenging thing for us is taking the first step towards reconciliation. The ego and the devil will fight us. But when God commands, He gives the ability to obey, like Peter on the lake (Matthew 14:29).

So, go! 

It is righteous and liberating. The good thing is you are not responsible for the other person’s response. Reconciliation may not come instantly, but you would have done your part. When you take the floor after that, you will dance light-footed and with much joy.