23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus. Matthew 5:23, 24. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 14 of 30 Days of Growing. Relational wholeness is top priority of Scripture. To live our life with a wake of relational skeletons strewn along our path, is totally counter to God’s purpose for us. In fact, before we get all excited about our religious exercises, Jesus directs us back to those broken relationships and putting in a good-faith effort toward reconciliation and healing. This isn’t to say that all broken relationships should be pursued or restored—some are straight-up dangerous—but most of us know which ones fit into that category, and which ones don’t. It’s the friend you shafted by not repaying that loan you promised to repay. The friend you zipped off that nasty text to—or the co-worker you embarrassed in front her co-workers. Yeah, those relationships. Before you run off to some exciting charity work or to a group Bible study—start doing some good-faith work toward the healing of those strained or broken relationships. You’ll be amazed at the results.
