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Matthew 5:23-24
June 12, 2026 by Rebecca Littlejohn
DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Matthew 5:23-24 – So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (NRSV)
These verses are the primary biblical motivation for why we pass the “peace of Christ” as worship is beginning each week. It may just be a symbolic act most of the time, but it’s also a chance for us to open ourselves to God’s mercy and let it soften our hearts in all the places we were still grasping hold of grudges or resentments. The gospel implies that while our acts of worship are important, they will not have integrity if we are offering them with hearts that are still causing harm to others.
Just as stewardship is not just about the money we give to God, but also about how the way we spend the rest of it impacts the rest of God’s creation (including other people), worship is not just about what we say to God. Our words to one another also make a difference in how true our worship of our shared Creator can really be. God sees through our hypocrisy and the masks we sometimes feel we must wear. God prefers that we come clean – honest about all the ways we’ve fallen short and need help, rather than pretending we’re perfectly put together and never in need of mercy.
We will be talking about the power of words and honesty this weekend in worship, as one aspect of being part of a healthy congregation. As a body, we aim to be transparent with one another, so that everyone can feel some ownership for the ministry we are carrying out together. As we move from worship into our annual congregational meeting, we want everyone to know that questions are welcome! Sometimes the folks who are most involved in the work forget that not everyone has all the same background information to work from. Together, we can talk openly and honestly about where we are as a congregation, and move forward into the future stronger for the conversation!