The Right State for Worship - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:24

The Right State for Worship
As we come together on Lord's Day mornings to remember the Lord, we should remember that there are at least five things that the Lord considers more important than our offerings. To obey is better than sacrifice is what Samuel told King Saul (1 Sam. 15:22). Are we obedient to the Lord during the week? To love the Lord and our neighbor is more to God than our giving (Mk. 12:32-33). To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to God than sacrifice (Prov. 21:3). To have and show mercy is more important to the Lord than sacrifice (Mt. 12:7). To be reconciled with our brethren is more important than sacrifice and offerings (Mt. 5:23-24).

Considering each of these points, should it not be obvious to us what the Lord's attitude would be if He were here? The Lord is seeking our obedience, even as He was obedient. He wants us to love one another; He loved us to the fullest measure, dying for us when we were enemies of God. Should we then not love our brother and show it? Knowing that God is a righteous God and has applied justice at a great cost to Himself, should we not live a life that is characterized by the same? As He shows mercy to us, does it not embarrass us to enter into His presence to offer something to Him, we being less than merciful? Do we come to worship on the Lord's Day to offer a gift at the altar to the Lord, and yet are not reconciled to a certain brother or sister? Will God accept our gift?

David understood that the Lord was not impressed by wonderful gifts and offerings at His altar if the heart of the giver was not right with God and with those around him. May we understand this too.

Albert Blok