"So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." Matthew 5:23,24
On Thursday last week the organizers of New Jersey's Wild Half half marathon apologized to their 2016 participants and announced that they would be offering them a discounted entry into their 2017 race. The headlines read, "Organizers of Short Half Marathon Offer Discount to Make Amends." Not only was the race distance shorter than the 13.1 distance, a large number of runners, (due to lack of signs) mistook an aid station for the turnaround point just ahead and lost an additional .03 mile. In their email to the runners, the race directors expressed their regret, acknowledged their mistake and set out to 'make it right'. As you can see, these wise organizers knew the importance of acting quickly on their mistakes to avoid any future problems.
Scripture also tells us of the importance of restoring broken or damaged relationships as soon as possible when it instructs us to 'make it right' with anyone that we might have a problem with or bitterness towards before we offer our sacrifice to God. You see broken relationships can hinder our relationship with the Lord. How can you and I offer him our worship when we aren't loving others the way he has commanded us to? How can we love him with our whole hearts if that same heart has a part that holds hatred or a grievance against someone else? Quite simply, we can't.
So today, if "someone has something against you" or you need to 'make it right' with someone, don't waste another second. "Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."
Heavenly Father, we thank you so much your forgiveness each and every day for the things we have done against you. Help us to forgive others in the same way that we might be an example of your love for all to see. If we hold something against someone today or feel that they hold something against us, may we be bold in pursuing reconciliation that we might offer you a sacrifice of unhindered praise and worship. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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