First reconcile

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23, 24

"Crushing" is the word one runner used to describe the news that Saturday’s Gulf Coast Marathon course was .295 miles short of the 26.2 miles needed to be a full marathon. And while the discrepancy might not have mattered to most of the runners, those who had achieved a Boston Marathon qualifying time were quite upset to learn that their hard work was for naught-and that their only chance to run Boston was to run another race and hope to re-qualify. Upon learning of the miscalculation, Race Director Jonathan Dziuba immediately took full responsibility for the error though, and sent an apology letter to all the runners saying, "I am deeply sorry for this series of events...Unfortunately, BAA does not currently allow exceptions for people not running the complete marathon distance at a race even if it is the event producer's fault. For those runners who were able to make your BAA qualifying time, I am deeply saddened by my mistake especially for you."

You know, no matter how hard you and I try to do things right, we will inevitably make mistakes and hurt others in one way or another. But when that happens, the Bible is very clear that you and I are to acknowledge that we've grieved someone else and then resolve to restore that relationship as quickly as possible. You see, broken relationships not only hinder our witness to others (how can we love God if we don't love our brother?) but interfere with our relationship with God. Which is exactly why we are told to leave our sacrifice at the altar and "First go and be reconciled to them” with them meaning those who might have something against us. 

So if there's someone you need to be reconciled with, won't you do it today? Because as Dr. Geoffrey Tristram writes, "We cannot be right with God until we are right with our fellow men and women. We cannot hope for forgiveness until we have confessed our sin to God and mended our broken relationships and sought reconciliation with our brothers and sisters."

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that reconciliation is very important in our relationship with you and with others. Help us to recognize when we have hurt someone else, whether we meant to or not, and extend love to that person that our relationship with them might be healed and the relationship with You unhindered. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Forgiveness - Matthew West
https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=WLPKY7NX

http://www.wlox.com/story/37051911/runners-heartbreak-sundays-gulf-coast-marathon-was-1555-feet-short