Scripture Reading
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Devotional Reflection
As we continue through Great Lent:
• We fast.
• We pray.
• We give.
• We watch.
But Christ reminds us that none of these disciplines can replace something deeper: reconciliation.
Today’s words from the Sermon on the Mount tie worship directly to forgiveness.
What does it look like to “leave the gift” today?
A text.
A phone call.
An apology.
A prayer for someone you’ve resisted.
You may not control their response.
But you control your obedience.
The altar waits.
But reconciliation cannot.
Closing Prayer
Lord,
Search my heart.
Show me where division remains.
Give me courage to seek peace where I have avoided it.
Remove pride.
Remove fear.
Let my worship be clean — not only in ritual, but in relationship.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.