Our Family Time with God

November 23, 2009

CLEAR CONSCIENCE--

LEAVE YOUR GIFT AT THE ALTAR

In the Old Testament times, an Israelite brought his gift of sacrifice to the court of the Israelites. He waited with his gift at the rails of the altar separating the place where he stood from the place where the priests stood in a separate courtyard. He waited until the moment when the priest approached the Israelite with outstretched hands to receive the sacrifice.

At that moment, about to present himself to the priest and to God, asking for forgiveness and mercy, if the Israelite remembered that a brother had something against him, he left his gift at the altar and made things right with his brother. Then he returned to the court of the Israelites and presented his sacrifice to the priest.

Jesus teaches the importance of restoring relationships in Matthew 5:23-24. "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

In the early church, believers followed the common practice of resolving offenses and disputes with brothers and sisters in the Lord before partaking of the Lord's Supper.

On one occasion, I remember being challenged to ask God if there was anyone in my life, past or present, that I had offended. I bowed my head and asked God to reveal these people to me. Immediately, four people came to mind. I promised God that I would do everything within my power to seek forgiveness from those individuals. Within days, God brought me in contact with each one of those people.

Word cannot express the joy and freedom that came to my spirit when I made things right with them.

ASSIGNMENT: Look up and discuss Acts 24:16. Can you think of anyone in your past you've offended and with whom you've not made things right?

--Craig M. Scott--