Re-Center Around God
Matthew 5:24
First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
~ Jesus
Review
Who are you currently not reconciled with? Would God confirm that you have done what you can? Have you been offended but only talked about that person rather than to him/her?
Repent if Necessary
The tough part here is not just repenting, but agreeing to take a step that you have may not have taken yet – or at least not recently. Check in with God about approaching His altar in light of the current
healthy or unhealthy state of certain relationships.
Return (as necessary)
Re-read Matthew 18:15-20 and ask the Spirit for direction. Re-read Matthew 5:21-24 and then mentally picture yourself returning to God with an offering after reconciling with a brother or sister. See God’s reaction in your mind’s eye having obeyed His will. Pray for this experience to occur in real life.
Matthew 18:15-20
Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 5:21-24
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119:145-152
- I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord,
and I will obey your decrees. - I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes. - I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word. - My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises. - Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws. - Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law. - Yet you are near, Lord,
and all your commands are true. - Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Romans 13:3
Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
The Promise
Psalm 66:18-20
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Pondering Point
We often talk of hearing God’s voice – such as in His Word and in our hearts. V. 149 talks of God hearing our voice; how often does God hear your voice?