I have shifted from studying the word word “works” to the word “gift”. This morning I was taken to a passage that was a bit unexpected, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as He speaks about anger. Gifts and anger, what would God have for me this morning. Well here are the verses dealing with gifts.

“²³So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

Jesus reminds me here to be sure that I am fully reconciled before I bring my gift to Him. My heart must be clear of any of the distractions and aches that will cause me to remove my eyes from Him even for a moment. That requires that I have nothing hanging over me and that I am able to engage with Him and Him alone.

I am especially fond of the first part of verse 24, “leave your gift there…and go”. I know that I have this innate drive to finish one thing before moving on to the other and just leaving something to go to something else seems a bit counter productive. The thing is, I have left the issue with another undone and moved on to bringing a gift to God. I have proceeded contrary to my own innate drive.

I must get back to the place where I am not leaving anything undone before moving to the next. I have to remember to reconcile and then move to the next. I have to get my heart right before coming to the Lord with my gift. I have to remember that by getting right with others, I am taking the self out of the equation. I am not doing it for me, although I benefit from a right heart, I am doing it for the other to show my repentance and demonstrating the example of Christ.

Jesus reconciled with the people before He was put to death and became the gift of sacrifice. There was nothing left undone that was not to be left undone. He completed His work to that point and moved on to the next which was dying on the cross for each of us, the ultimate gift of selflessness.

I am bound to God through the gift of salvation and I am due to gift back to Him. I have to remember to leave nothing undone and no reconciliation incomplete. I have to get right before I gift to the LORD.

How are you coming to the alter? Are you coming with things left undone? What if you completed all thing and was fully reconciled so that you come to the LORD with a clear heart and a beautiful gift?