bible qoutes

Tues. July 28
Text: Mt.5: 23- 24
NO USELESS OFFERINGS PLEASE!

I have been a Pastor of a local assembly for a while now and one of the things that baffle me most is the impunity with which believers ignore our text for today. The Lord says: “if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift”. It is surprising to see people who sing in the same choir to be on no talking terms for years and yet they offer their gift of praise everyday on the same altar. Isn’t that useless offering? Two Elders who have hate in their hearts towards one another serving the Holy Communion at church, offering their gift of service on the same altar! Isn’t that useless offering? Our Lord is saying to us in simple words: “No useless offerings, please! He regards peace with our brethren far higher in order of preference than sacrifice. The reason is simple. A heart of unforgiveness pollutes the offering on the altar. In other words, where there is no peace as a result of lack of reconciliation and forgiveness, there is no basis for sacrifice. In fact He makes it even clearer that it is not necessary for the offending party to make the first move but the offended. Refusal to adhere to our text is one of the reasons for unanswered prayers in the church today. Don’t remain disobedient.