Tag: Matthew 5:23–24

Imagine! There is a big donor conference to raise millions of dollars to further God’s kingdom. Jesus has been invited to chair this conference. A donor announces a donation of 100 million dollars, but the Master is not impressed.

The people around wonder why He is not cheering up! The Master says to the donor, “Go with your money till you restore your relationship with your business partner; then I can receive this gift.”

It is not uncommon for us to claim we love God, whom we have not seen, yet we cannot get along with the people we can physically see, reach, and touch. To Jesus, this attitude is hypocritical.

We need to get the unity of the body of Christ right before we can do any meaningful art of worship and service to the Master.

Nature has destined the termite to exhibit the concept of self-destruction. Termites have the natural inclination to eat each other up in times of hunger. The devil would be happy to see us do this to ourselves.

Paul admonishes us about this in his writing: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15).

The growth of this ministry, like any other organization, comes with complexities and strains that affect our relationships with one another. We need to demonstrate the attitude we see in Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:12 — “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.”

God’s blessing for us will depend on our ability to bear with one another in love and see ourselves as one body performing different functions (Roman 12:4).

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

Prayer: Lord, make us all one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nyarko Twum-Barimah works as a Partnership Facilitator Supervisor for Compassion Ghana.

Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.

The distinguishing characteristic of Jesus’ disciples was not their passionate worship, their eloquent prayers, their care for the poor, or their sacrificial giving. Jesus said that it was their love for one another that would demonstrate to the world that they were His disciples.