Reconciliation
Reconciliation
“If you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5:23–24)
The Title Bout
After the first conflict with his wife, Rick didn’t see her for a couple of days. Time to think. Slowly his eyes began to open to what most of us have learned at one time or another: conflict is inevitable. When two or more people come together, the potential for disagreement is always there. Even the best of relationships will have some degree of conflict.
The Tender Meeting
Jesus tells us to take the initiative in seeking reconciliation. Restoring a broken relationship is like mending a broken arm. You take initiative by going to a doctor so it can be set, a cast put on, and healing can take place. Broken relationships, like broken arms, are never mended accidentally. They require purposeful, intentional action.
Jesus prescribes a one-on-one, face-to-face meeting. Letters are wonderful, the phone is a marvelous tool, e-mail is a great invention, texting saves time; but when it comes to approaching someone with the motive of healing a relationship, the biblical practice is face-to-face. And what do we say when we get there? Well, the shortest distance between two people seeking reconciliation is often a straight line like: “I was wrong,” or “I haven’t been honest with you,” or “Your actions hurt me,” or “I love you too much to allow our relationship to crumble.”
Bottom Line
Reconcile first, then worship. That’s the correct order.