"Excuse Me?"
“ ‘Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering’ ” (Matt 5:23,24, NASB).
I’d like you to imagine the following conversation
Between a fellow Christian and God who rules creation.
Consider what’s portrayed here when you next kneel down to pray,
And ask yourself the question, “Could my prayer end up this way?”
Now, the conversation —
“Gracious Heavenly Father, I pray that You’ll forgive me,
Because during this day, Lord, I treated others wrongfully”.
“Excuse Me? Did you say…‘forgive me?’ ” “Yes, Lord, isn’t that okay?”
“Yes, but haven’t you forgotten something?” “Have I? It’s usually how I pray.”
“Have you asked their forgiveness?” “You mean, those I was unkind to?”
“Yes.” “Ahh…well...ahh...no, Father.” “Yet you want Me to forgive you?”
“Well...ahh...yes, Father, that’s what I was hoping.” “Excuse Me?”
“Isn’t that somewhat premature?” “Premature?” “Yes, don’t you see?”
“You’ve come asking My forgiveness, but you’ve wronged others too.
You should apologize to them first, and then My forgiveness pursue.
If you haven’t put things right with the ones you wronged today,
It’s somewhat premature to be proceeding My way.”
“I’m sure you’re sincere, and sincerity I like to see,
But it’s somewhat back to front to be first approaching Me.
Now, please don’t get Me wrong, as, ‘I’m sorry, Lord’, I like to hear,
But though I like your keenness, order does have its place here”.
“Of course I’ll forgive you if you’re sincere; and right away,
As long as I know you intend to, and will be, heading their way.
Just don’t forget the order that has its rightful part to play
When seeking My forgiveness for wrong done throughout the day”.
“Putting things right with others, and asking forgiveness of Me,
Should always go together where you’ve treated others wrongfully.
And where you can’t right a wrong that you perhaps gave rise to,
Rest assured I’ll forgive if you’ve done all that you can do.”
“Thank you, Father.”
By Lance Landall
“ ‘But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions’ ” (Matt 6:15, NASB).
Christ insists that men must make things right with their fellow men before they can be reconciled to God (1 John 4:20).