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. —Matthew 5:23-24
It is easy for us to imagine that we will suddenly come to a point in our lives where we are fully prepared, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished. In fact, it is a process that must be steadily maintained. It is dangerous to become settled and complacent in our present level of experience.
The Christian life requires preparation and more preparation. The sense of sacrifice in the Christian life is readily appealing to a new Christian. From a human standpoint, the one thing that attracts us to Jesus Christ is our sense of the heroic, and a close examination of us by our Lord’s words suddenly puts this tide of enthusiasm to the test. “…go your way. First be reconciled to your brother….” The “go” of preparation is to allow the Word of God to examine you closely. Your sense of heroic sacrifice is not good enough. The thing the Holy Spirit will detect in you is your nature that can never work in His service. And no one but God can detect that nature in you.
Do you have anything to hide from God? If you do, then let God search you with His light. If there is sin in your life, don’t just admit it— confess it. Are you willing to obey your Lord and Master, whatever the humiliation to your right to yourself may be? Never disregard a conviction that the Holy Spirit brings to you. If it is important enough for the Spirit of God to bring it to your mind, it is the very thing He is detecting in you.
You were looking for some big thing to give up, while God is telling you of some tiny thing that must go. But behind that tiny thing lies the stronghold of obstinacy, and you say, “I will not give up my right to myself”— the very thing that God intends you to give up if you are to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
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September 24 2015
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Good morning Lord. Today’s devotional is pretty clear…. “Allow the Word of God and Holy Spirit to reconcile issues and conflicts before we come to worship and serve.” This seems pretty clear, and necessary in light of our nature. We seem to be naturally driven to look right, feel right, and to look good and be in control. As Paul says in Romans 7:21-25 (MSG)….The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.
It seems to me Lord, that Jesus has already solved the problem Chambers writes about, we simply need to surrender and be connected before we attempt to worship and serve.
And God says…”That is correct. And remember, apart from Me you can do nothing. Trying to worship and serve Me on your own, without having surrendered and without being connected to the Holy Spirit, is like trying to go to a wonderful beautiful party or banquet in filthy dirty clothes. You take time to get prepared for the party…you can also get prepared to worship and serve. Seek Jesus; surrender your own agenda, opportunities, concerns and trials to Him. Then allow the Holy Spirit to connect with the Spirit living inside of you. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you to confession, reconciliation, or simply joyous service and worship. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you require, including awareness and strength for confession, reconciliation, or simply joyous service and worship.”
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