Leave it at the Altar

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” // Matthew 5:23-24 

I was sitting at the kitchen island lost in my thoughts as my friend gave what felt like another excuse for abandoning our friendship. It had been years of this dance between maintaining what we had and completely losing touch. I found myself back at a familiar place of resentment within this particular relationship. 

Why do I always end up on this side of friendships?  

I put so much into these relationships, and this is what I get. 

So many thoughts of bitterness and frustration raced through my head as I deceptively gave a smile and a nod to yet another apology. I was so tired of being an afterthought in this relationship—or any relationship, at that. 

I had brought this to the Lord in prayer over and over, hoping somehow that He would justify my anger or perhaps I would leave feeling like the bigger person for bringing it to Jesus. 

What I failed to see was how much all of this affected the rest of my prayer. It began consuming every part of me. The truth was that I could not offer the gift of myself to God until I reconciled with my friend. It wasn’t until I had a real and honest conversation with her that I saw a change in my prayer. 

In today’s Gospel (see Matthew 5:20-26), Jesus firmly but tenderly declares what greater righteousness looks like, how we are not the ones to judge others. He demands conversion and offers direction—something I find so endearing about our Lord. This work of reconciliation is part of our act of worship, our offering to Him. 

Is there someone you’ve been desiring reconciliation with? Listen to that conviction in your heart and take that step, first leaving your gift at the altar. Then return to the Lord eagerly and with gratitude. Sister, the Lord desires reconciliation and worship.