The Face You’re Missing
“So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24
It’s easy to assume that bitterness only affects the person you’re bitter toward. That somehow, your cold shoulder or unresolved grudge is just about them. But what if the person it’s really hurting most is you?
When Leonardo da Vinci was painting The Last Supper, he let a personal grudge creep into his work. Out of spite, he painted his enemy’s face onto Judas. But when he got to the face of Jesus, he couldn’t do it. Something was blocking him. It wasn’t until he repainted Judas and made peace with that man that the clarity returned and the portrait of Jesus came into view.
That’s a powerful reminder. Sometimes we wonder why God feels distant. Why our worship feels dry. Why our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling. It might not be because we’re doing all the “wrong” things. It could be that we’re clinging to a bitter thing. An old wound. An unresolved fight. A slow-burning resentment that clouds our hearts and blurs our spiritual vision.
If that’s you, here’s the fresh challenge: maybe this isn’t just about fixing a relationship, it’s about fixing your view of Christ. Maybe the reason you’re stuck in your faith isn’t because God moved. It’s because something in your heart is blocking the light. That’s why Jesus says not to wait. Leave the gift. Make the call. Own your part. Reconcile.
The real loss of bitterness isn’t just broken human relationships. It’s missing out on a deeper connection with Jesus.
It’s easy to assume that bitterness only affects the person you’re bitter toward. That somehow, your cold shoulder or unresolved grudge is just about them. But what if the person it’s really hurting most is you?
When Leonardo da Vinci was painting The Last Supper, he let a personal grudge creep into his work. Out of spite, he painted his enemy’s face onto Judas. But when he got to the face of Jesus, he couldn’t do it. Something was blocking him. It wasn’t until he repainted Judas and made peace with that man that the clarity returned and the portrait of Jesus came into view.
That’s a powerful reminder. Sometimes we wonder why God feels distant. Why our worship feels dry. Why our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling. It might not be because we’re doing all the “wrong” things. It could be that we’re clinging to a bitter thing. An old wound. An unresolved fight. A slow-burning resentment that clouds our hearts and blurs our spiritual vision.
If that’s you, here’s the fresh challenge: maybe this isn’t just about fixing a relationship, it’s about fixing your view of Christ. Maybe the reason you’re stuck in your faith isn’t because God moved. It’s because something in your heart is blocking the light. That’s why Jesus says not to wait. Leave the gift. Make the call. Own your part. Reconcile.
The real loss of bitterness isn’t just broken human relationships. It’s missing out on a deeper connection with Jesus.
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