More Important than Worship

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. Matthew 5:23-24(NIV)

Have you ever felt like God’s work in your life is being hindered? Does your spiritual life seem stale at times? A youth pastor friend of mine experienced that very thing in his youth group. He said students were not responding to the teaching of the Bible as they once had, and the teens did not seem to be growing in their faith.

Upon closer examination, he realized there was dissension in the group. Several of the kids had broken relationships with other kids in the group.

He decided to give his students an opportunity to confess wrongs to each other at the beginning of their worship time. He said a number of students immediately accepted the challenge. They got up and went over to other kids in the room to acknowledge sin, ask forgiveness, and make things right. After a few moments, students all over the room were mending broken relationships.

This youth pastor said after this exciting experience, he began each youth meeting with a time for reconciliation. He began to see God work in unusual ways in the lives of his students. The group began to grow, and a number of students who had no previous spiritual interest began new relationships with God. There was also a fresh response to the teaching of God’s Word!

Do you desire for God to do a fresh work in your life? Is it possible a relationship needs to be mended before God can begin? It’s certainly something to consider as we think about relationships.

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