When I was a newborn in Christ, a spiritual brother told me what it would be like the closer I got to the Lord. He said it’s like going into a night club all decked out in your finest clothes. You’re feeling good because you’re looking good. But as you step into the club’s black light, the light exposes and magnifies imperfections in your clothing that heretofore was unseen. Now, they glaringly stand out: lint, fuzz balls, spots, etc.

The analogy is so true. Even though I accept that I’m covered by Christ’s righteousness, perfection, and holiness; I cannot help but see by God’s light the spots and wrinkles on my life.

One of the most frequent stains I find on me is being mean, ugly, or indifferent to someone. I either say or do something, sometimes both, that causes a rift in the relationship. In some instances, the relationship continues. In others, a cold civility replaces warmth. Or, the relationship collapses altogether.

In each of those cases, it does not escape me that I’ve caused the person to now have something against me. It frequents my thoughts, daily. But it is especially in intimate moments with God and offering my life to Him as a sacrifice that I feel and see the enormity of the damage that I’ve caused.

Most often, this sin is highlighted during church service and/or during private prayer time. The Lord accepts my worship and prayer, but not without correcting me. He always impresses upon me that in order to continually grow; I should make an attempt to reconcile with the person I’ve wronged. Asking the person for forgiveness is the first step.

When we wrong someone, we shouldn’t bury it and pretend that all is well. It’s not. It will only serve to keep us guilty and stressful before God. Instead, we should thank God for keeping His light on the matter; for giving us the opportunity to move even closer to Him and be internally cleansed a little more.

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I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 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. Matthew 5: 22-24