Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
How many times have you been hurt in church? How many times have people failed you in church? Next question might hurt a bit. How many times have you hurt someone? How many times have you failed someone? Do you not attend church because “I don't feel like people care or I am not being fed”? Oh, this is a dangerous place to be! We do not attend church so that we can feel good or so that we get what we want out of it. NO! We attend church for a couple reasons.
One is because we are called too but also, we are to worship together and encourage others. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Here is a harsh truth....it is not all about you and me! It is about Jesus Christ and worshipping him. People are going to fail. Why? Because they are human. What is important is to make sure our heart is in the right place before we bring our offering to Jesus. We cannot adequately worship the King of Kings if we have bitterness in our hearts. Does that mean we stay away from church and that person or persons who hurt us? NOPE! Then we are going against what God wants for us. Just because we are hurt does not give us the right to neglect what God has called us to do. He is our authority our feelings are not. Read Matthew 5:23-24 again and note “First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Nope, I do not see the words avoid said person and continue your worship.
This is a hard thing to do. It requires humility and admitting you failed. Guess what, maybe you didn't, they just feel like you did. It is your responsibility to make it right.
If you are not following his truths, how can you properly worship? You cannot. Go. Make things right. I think this also leads to making sure we are treating others in a way that is God honoring in the first place. We will fail; people will fail. Guess what...our Pastors will fail.
Be in the business of spurring one another on to good deeds not just consuming those good deeds from others. Offer your gifts sacrificially with the right heart, making things right with others.
How many times have you been hurt in church? How many times have people failed you in church? Next question might hurt a bit. How many times have you hurt someone? How many times have you failed someone? Do you not attend church because “I don't feel like people care or I am not being fed”? Oh, this is a dangerous place to be! We do not attend church so that we can feel good or so that we get what we want out of it. NO! We attend church for a couple reasons.
One is because we are called too but also, we are to worship together and encourage others. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Here is a harsh truth....it is not all about you and me! It is about Jesus Christ and worshipping him. People are going to fail. Why? Because they are human. What is important is to make sure our heart is in the right place before we bring our offering to Jesus. We cannot adequately worship the King of Kings if we have bitterness in our hearts. Does that mean we stay away from church and that person or persons who hurt us? NOPE! Then we are going against what God wants for us. Just because we are hurt does not give us the right to neglect what God has called us to do. He is our authority our feelings are not. Read Matthew 5:23-24 again and note “First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Nope, I do not see the words avoid said person and continue your worship.
This is a hard thing to do. It requires humility and admitting you failed. Guess what, maybe you didn't, they just feel like you did. It is your responsibility to make it right.
If you are not following his truths, how can you properly worship? You cannot. Go. Make things right. I think this also leads to making sure we are treating others in a way that is God honoring in the first place. We will fail; people will fail. Guess what...our Pastors will fail.
Be in the business of spurring one another on to good deeds not just consuming those good deeds from others. Offer your gifts sacrificially with the right heart, making things right with others.