So if you are offering your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave the gift before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift.

Matthew 5:24

God is love. Sacrificial, faithful, relentless and kind. Sometimes the way we understand love does not always mirror a God-focused-love. We easily get distracted, or try to convince God that we love with our array of good deeds, yet what God is calling of us sometimes requires a greater sacrifice of the heart.

The Forgiven Women

In the gospels, there is a story of a woman who laid before Christ the two greatest things she had of value: her hair, and an expensive alabaster jar of oil. She prostrated herself in a lowly position, and humbly accepted her position amongst the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as tears flooded her eyes, she wondered, am I worthy? Taking her highest things of value and washing the dirtiest part of Jesus’ exterior, his feet. As her heart is laid bare, Simon the pharisee, and the disciples scoffs at this incredulous act. Questioning if Jesus even knew who she was or what she had done. Yet she knew Christ’s authority greater than those around her. Pride blinds our eyes, while humility opens them. To many this act of service appeared as foolishness, yet to the One whose opinion mattered, wisdom.

Christ’s response was a gentle reminder that they we’re not seeing the situation for what it was. Jesus knew his time for his earthly ministry was running short, and this woman was honoring Christ. Those around were thinking skin deep of the practical ramifications of the action; rather than the deeper impact of a heart that was transformed by Christ. He responded, “Why trouble this women, she has done a good thing, For you will always have the poor, but you won’t always have me.”

Her focus was evident from the moment she stepped into Christ’s presence, giving her all to praise and honor Him. While the disciples got distracted by her humanity, and questioned her waste; disregarding her in general, as a throwaway of society. They had forgotten their mission, and needed a reminder that she was who they were to disciple and love.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.

Luke 7:47

Sometimes I think we miss the mark too. Some virtues may come easy for us ; perhaps yours is giving, hospitality, encouragement, or the countless others. However, if you are like me, I have to be mindful to not just do “good” works at the expense of the greater matters of the heart.

Without Love it’s Impossible to Please God

Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.

Matthew 6:15

We cannot define what is love, apart from God, because God is love. So if you remember your brother has something against us, go and make amends with that brother before you serve, before you give. The love we show others, needs to be from an overflow of a heart redeemed, for God’s praise and glory; not to try to earn favor, because that love has already been granted to us by Christ’s blood. So it’s good to ask ourselves, are our offerings for our own benefit or for God’s? We can’t hate our brother, and act as though our love for the Lord is in tack.

When we press forward contrary to the original goal God has for us, our gifts will not be received as a sweet offering. God is a God of order. Forgive first, then let the Lord work in you and through you, whatever He desires.

This is not only for the person we need to forgives benefit, but also ours. The bitterness we are harboring only weighs us down. What a kind God to remind us, He doesn’t just want our gifts, and service, but also our heart. To let us go take care of ourself, heal, be restored, and rest in God’s love before all the todos. Yet, somehow this is very hard. Until we feel the taste of how a healed heart feels like, we almost beg, please let us do all the stuff. Forgiving the person who has harmed us is too hard of an ask. Yet, God loves them,  just like He loves you, with all your baggage, hidden and unseen.

This is a hard truth.

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:5-6

Easy is not the road God asks of us. It is loving your enemies, putting down our offenses for a greater love. Not in our own strength, but in the strength from the One who made us. This will not come easy. If you think sharing what you have is hard, try forgiving someone who stabbed you in the back. Try loving someone who has gossiped and defamed your name. God wants healing of the bitterness we have built up around our heart. We are imperfect people, trying to love imperfect people. So with heads bowed in worship, let us live out the Lord’s prayer, “Lord, please forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Amen.