Why is it important to seek reconciliation with others before worshiping God? Setting the Scene Genesis 32:3 tells us, “Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” After decades of estrangement, Jacob realizes he cannot meet God at Bethel (Genesis 35:1) while ignoring broken fellowship with his brother. His first move is toward reconciliation. Reconciliation as a Prelude to Encounter • Jacob’s fear of Esau (Genesis 32:7) drives him to prayer (32:9–12), but the act of sending messengers comes first. • Scripture’s principle: unresolved human conflict blocks meaningful communion with God. • Psalm 66:18 warns, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” From Jacob to Jesus: The Pattern Completed • Matthew 5:23-24: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you… first go and be reconciled.” • Mark 11:25: “And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it.” • Jesus echoes Jacob’s order of priorities: make peace horizontally before approaching God vertically. Why Reconciliation Matters Before Worship 1. It reflects God’s own heart. – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 shows God initiated peace with us. We honor Him by imitating that initiative. 2. It preserves the integrity of our worship. – Worship without love is hypocrisy (1 John 4:20). 3. It removes spiritual hindrances. – Bitterness grieves the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32) and dulls our hearing. 4. It protects the unity of the body. – Colossians 3:13: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 5. It witnesses to a watching world. – John 13:35: love among believers authenticates our message. Spiritual Consequences of Unresolved Conflict • Prayer becomes strained (Psalm 66:18). • Communion loses joy (1 Peter 3:7 applies the principle to marriage). • Service bears less fruit (James 3:16 links strife with disorder). Practical Steps Toward Peace • Identify whom you have wronged or who has wronged you. • Initiate contact—like Jacob’s messengers—before the next time of corporate worship. • Speak truthfully, admit fault, and seek forgiveness. • Offer restitution if needed (Luke 19:8). • Release the offense in prayer, entrusting outcomes to God (Romans 12:18). Living It Out Just as Jacob would not move on until he faced Esau, don’t press forward in worship while relationships remain fractured. Pursue peace first; then your altar will ring with unhindered praise. |
    |