Tag: Love God Greatly

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer

Looking Back and then Ahead

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Week 4 Preview of Love God Greatly’s, The Importance of Prayer
Looking Back

Last year we looked at these same verses around this same time of year and here’s what I wrote that day in response:

My daughter gave birth to her first child this weekend, my first grandchild. What a wonderful gift from God that has filled our family with rejoicing! As my mother said, “He’s the beginning of a new generation.” My father, who recently passed away, would have certainly been rejoicing over this little guy. He would have been rejoicing in the hope of him knowing the Lord and the hope of God using him for great things would have been at the top of his list.💜 It strikes me how fitting this is with today’s lesson about “rejoicing in hope”, specifically in the “Hope of God’s glory”. God’s glory, as defined by Bibleref.com, “is Himself and all that is His”. As God’s children, we have the great privilege of HOPE – not a hope that something may happen but of the expectation that it will happen. An expectation that comes from believing in Christ without seeing – and trusting in the promises associated with our faith. The hope of eternity, the hope of peace and grace and mercy, the hope of forgiveness! We rejoice in the HOPE of His love come down every Christmas, and in His death, burial and resurrection with baptisms and every communion we partake of. As God’s children we have HOPE and when we truly understand the foundation of our HOPE we will be moved to rejoice in the goodness of our God and all that is His – and this my friends – should have a great effect on how we pray.

Looking Ahead

Sweet to look back on memories like this – sweeter still is the HOPE that is renewed by what God has done in the past that has demonstrated His love and faithfulness to His children.

Week 4 promises to be interesting, as we will journey through both the Old and New Testaments, covering some passages that reveal “How God Answers Prayers”. On Friday we will look at one of my favorite Ephesian passages, which proclaims that God is able to do more than we ask or even imagine – Talk about HOPE!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20 NLT

I invite you to join me daily and pray that you will find the journey to be a source of delight and an encouragement to your soul. Jeremiah said it like this – “[God], Your Words were found and I ate them and Your words became to me a source of joy and the delight of my heart -” Jeremiah 15:16.

Want to join me on facebook for a bit more interactive study – join me here https://www.facebook.com/groups/2825151424418487/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Knowing the Spirit Intercedes

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Inspired by “The Importance of Prayer”, a Love God Greatly Study – w3d5

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-27; SOAP verse 27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

Romans 8:26-27 NET

I remember the first time I read this verse, well – at least the first time I read it with any understanding and appreciation for what it says. That day was more than three decades ago and even though I’ve experienced many seasons of stifled prayers since that time the truth is still as sweet and refreshing today as it was then. When emotions or tiredness or life bogs us down – we may want to pray but find that no words will come, or when words come but they are all jumbled up because mind and heart are a jumbled mess of trials or temptations and we just aren’t sure how to pray – this is the truth that allows us to sit quietly before God knowing His Spirit is at work on our behalf – by and for God’s will. That’s a powerful truth and a privilege of prayer that we must not miss. God, so wants to interact with us – and He so wants us to be confident and able to rest in Him that in His sovereign knowledge and provision He provided a means for us to pray even in our weakest moments, or greatest temptations, or deepest griefs. Whether we are so physically tired we can’t think, or so spiritually weak we don’t know if we even want to pray – God made a way. Not only does His Spirit teach us and remind us of everything He has said (Jn 14:26), He takes our groans, our unutterable words, our aches and pains of heart, mind, body, and soul and He delivers them to God on our behalf – and He does this because God willed it to be so. – Why? Because, as Peter wrote, God cares for us – (1 Peter 5:7). So, here I was studying this verse again – so familiar to me that I can say it in my sleep and claim it often in those moments of unformed words, which are all too-frequent now – yet I found myself once again making notes like I had never read or understood it before. I’m looking back at those notes now and here’s the one that jumped off the page at me – actually it’s been on my mind everyday for the last 6 days … “Just because we don’t know how or what to pray doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray – We may be silenced by our emotions or distracted by our season of life but we can still sit quietly before Him – trusting Him to know our hearts and minds as His Spirit intercedes on our behalf.”

” Just because we don’t know how or what to pray doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray – We may be silenced by our emotions or distracted by life but we can still sit quietly before Him – trusting Him to know our hearts and minds as His Spirit intercedes”

Me – fromtheNsideout

Be sure and check out today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post

And – check back in here tomorrow for another Saturday Reflections

Posted in Bible study, The Importance of Prayer

He Gives Good Gifts to His Children Who Ask Him

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Inspired by “The Importance of Prayer”, aLGG Bible Study – w3d4
Today’s Scripture Reading : Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-11; SOAP 7:11

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

Matthew 7:7-11 NET

The first of our suggested passages today is most likely familiar to everyone. Known as the “Lord’s Prayer”, it is recorded here in Matthew as well as in Luke. It is the model Jesus gave the disciples when they asked Him, “how then should we pray?’, (Luke 11:1). In Matthew chapter 11, however, the focus is more on the attitude of our praying – the inflection of our attitude should be one of persistence. Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking – believing that God is hearing and will answer the request, which as we have already been reminded in our study – is indeed His promise – when we pray according to His will, (1 John 5:13-15). The last of this passage, verse 11, points out that not only is God attentive to our prayers He also answers with good gifts. Jesus uses the analogy that if we, as people with sinful natures, know how to give good gifts – how much more will the Father do likewise for His children?

Why is this a good lesson on “The Importance of Prayer”? Because if we don’t trust that God will give us a fish instead of a snake then we most likely do not truly believe He is a good God. If this is the case then our prayers will fail from the get-go. We must learn to pray from a position of trust whether we are praying for God’s Kingdom or our own needs.

Father, thank You for wanting to interact with Your children and thank You for being a good Father, who faithfully and lovingly gives good and perfect gifts. Thank you that they are gifts not only of tangible needs and wants but also gifts of the Scriptural nature – of teaching and encouragement, of mercy and discernment. help us to use them well and to ask for things that bring you glory. Please help me be aware of what I’m asking for, to ask with right motivation, and help me to be persistent and to ask believing – In Jesus Name – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Praying According to His Will

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Inspired by The Importance of Prayer, a LGG Study, w3d2
Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15; SOAP: 1 John 5:14

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.  And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:13-15

Once upon a time …. God lived in a temple built by human hands. His presence was behind a curtain and accessible only through an earthly priest. God’s people would come to the temple to worship as they had been instructed and to offer sacrifices of the blood of animals. Their sacrifices were atonements to pay for all the ways they had broken the laws that God had given them – no matter how hard they might try to keep the law as God desired – it was an impossible feat. The earthly priest, who was allowed to pass behind the curtain once a year, would make sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people year after year because their’s was not an everlasting atonement.

“The veil in the temple was a constant reminder that sin renders humanity unfit for the presence of God. The fact that the sin offering was offered annually and countless other sacrifices repeated daily showed graphically that sin could not truly be atoned for or erased by mere animal sacrifices. Jesus Christ, through His death, has removed the barriers between God and man, and now we may approach Him with confidence and boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16).”

Gotquestions.org

However, in time, God sent forth His only “begotten son” to become an atonement that would forever cover the sins of all those who believed in him. The atonement did not come easy, not only did God give up His one and only son, the son had to be born as a human and dwell among men. He took on the form of a servant and He loved like no one had loved before. He called others to follow him and performed miraculous acts of compassion through healing. He walked among the pious, devoutly religious, and sinners. He was questioned, ridiculed, and eventually sentenced to death – though no wrong could be proved against him.

Though he had faced all the temptations known to man – he was a man without sin. He was hung upon a criminal’s cross and He was crucified. A crown of thorns was used to mock his claim to be ‘king of the Jews’. He was stripped of his clothes, spit upon, and tortured beyond our understanding – all so that God’s plan would be accomplished. This plan, His plan, was born out of His love and His desire to dwell among men. It was a plan to save people from their sins – not through the sacrifices of animals over and over again but through His son who met all the requirements of a perfect sacrifice, a once and for all sacrifice. He was the true and spotless ‘Lamb of God’.

Remember the curtain… the one that stood between man and God … the one that was a constant reminder of sins that separated man from God? Well, when the son died, he proved to be the true and spotless lamb, for when he died the curtain in the temple, where God lived, was torn in two. It was not torn by human hands but miraculously from the top to the bottom – torn as a symbol that the wall between God and man was forever removed.

The size and thickness of the veil make the events occurring at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross so much more momentous. “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51a). … So, what do we make of this? What significance does this torn veil have for us today? Above all, the tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus’ death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.

Gotquestions.org

From that time forward, even to this day, the son’s blood covers all the sins of every man, woman, and child – from every tribe, nation, and tongue who believes in him, the son of God. Believers are adopted into God’s family and given the full rights of sons and daughters of God. As such, they are no longer separated by a curtain but are invited to approach God – to come before Him – with confidence that when they ask anything according to His will He will hear them and answer accordingly.

This isn’t the end of the story …. The son’s death was followed by a miraculous resurrection and ascension into Heaven where He sits at His Father’s right hand interceding on the behalf of all who have believed – with the promise to one day return again … Are you ready? If not and you would like to know how to be please contact me – I would love to share more of the Son’s story with you and introduce you to The Way. https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-message.html

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer

Pray Rejoicing In Hope

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Inspired by the – The Importance of Prayer, A LGG Bible Study- w3d1
Today’s Scripture: Romans 5:1-5; SOAP: 1-2

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NET

3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:3

But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, 24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.

Romans 4:23-25

Is there anything more exciting than knowing we have been declared righteous by our faith? To truly understand the implication and the beauty of it, the unbelievable love behind it, and the truest meaning of God’s grace – it helps to read chapters 1-4 of Romans but specifically Romans 4:3, 23-25. I especially love verses 23-24, “But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” But in context with our study on prayer, what does it all mean? How does it affect the way we pray? And, how does it produce a HOPE in which we can rejoice?

Why Can We Pray Rejoicing in HOPE?

Because, to name a few reasons …

  • Christ was given over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.(4:25)
  • We are DECLARED Righteous through faith in Christ. (3:24-25)
    • This declaration happens by grace through faith, not by works. (Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:8-9)
  • We have peace with God, through the sinless blood of Christ. (5:1-2)
  • Which means we have access, or A WAY, [Jesus Christ, John 14:6] …
    • to enter into the presence of God
    • to stand in His Grace
    • to rejoice in the HOPE of God and all that is His

Faith is the victory! It is the key to the righteousness we must obtain through Christ to be made right with God and experience the hope of rejoicing in His glory! – The hope that does not disappoint, as we come to know the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts through His Holy Spirit, who He has given to us! It [faith] is the key to praying with HOPE and to rejoicing in our sufferings, and standing in His Grace!

Father, Than You for the HOPE that comes from knowing and believing in Your Son, Jesus! Thank for the RIGHTEOUSNESS that is ours through our Faith in Him, in His death and resurrection, for the victory that is ours through this FAITH, and for making a way where there was truly no other way. Thank You for Your GRACE that allows us to stand in Your presence and to REJOICE in the HOPE of Your GLORY but also in our sufferings because of the love You have poured into our hearts through Your Spirit! – Thank You in Jesus’ name, Amen –

Want More

Be sure and check out today’s LGG blog post for even more insight

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Reflections

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I haven’t posted weekend reflections for a while now but decided I would this weekend. As I was typing them out, this passage from James came to mind – may it be a help and encouragement to you as we continue on this Journey through God’s Word –

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:22-25 NLT

REFLECTIONS FROM WEEK 2 OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER –
  1. What do we learn when we see how Jesus took time out of His day to get away and pray?
  2. How to anger and unforgiveness hinder your prayers?
  3. How was the power of prayer exhibited in Acts 9:40? What does this teach us about the power of prayer?
  4. When we pray for ourselves and others, what is one thing we should pray for based on Ephesians 3:16?
  5. Why is it important to abide in Christ? How can we do this when we pray?

If you missed any of the posts for week 2 you can find them at the following links –

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/16/5497/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/16/5508/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/18/5517/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/19/kneel-before-the-father/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/20/pray-to-abide-in-christ-2-0/
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Pray to Abide in Christ (2.0)

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Inspired by a LGG Bible Study, “The Importance of Prayer”, w2d5

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8; SOAP (5)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit because apart from me you can accomplish nothing”

John 15:5 NET

Jesus is teaching His disciples that He is their source of life ; and He goes on to say that they [the disciples] are the branches. He doesn’t stop with that analogy though, but continues the lesson that gives them the key to being a healthy – thriving “branch”, which is to abide, or remain in Him. In the context of the analogy it might sound like this – ‘the one who remains attached to Me – and I remain in him – bears much fruit …” or the evidence of Christ in us – Galatians 5:22-25)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. \

Galatians 5:22-25

As for the little clause, “and I in him“, is a given fact, for Christ said – “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20. And, of course, in John 14:18 He told them that He would send the Holy Spirit so that they would not be orphans, in other words He wouldn’t leave them alone. Jesus made it clear that He will always be with us – the choice is ours – to stay the course of a true disciple, remaining attached to Jesus, the “True Vine” – or not. Note the passage from Galatians defines those who “belong to Christ” [a true disciple] as having “nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.” He then identifies the disciples who belong to Him as ones who live by the Spirit, and encourages them to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of their lives.

Oh Father, may we choose well in our walk of faith, holding fast to the eternal life to which you have called us and about which we have declared before many witnesses in our churches and neighborhoods, at our jobs and to our families. Lord let us not falter but help us to faithfully keep in step with the Spirit – so that in all things we do and say – fruit will abound – disciples will multiply and You will be glorified! In the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Kneel Before the Father

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The Importance of Prayer, LGG 2023 – w2d4

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19; SOAP 14-16

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 
Ephesians 3:14-16

To understand the “reason” that Paul talking about when he kneels before the Father we need to look back at the previous verses, specifically verse 12 where Paul writes about coming before the Father with boldness and confidence.  “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”  He continues the thought here by putting it into practice. He kneels before the Father to pray. He continues on by uniting Himself to the Father in name and then praying according to His glory. He prays specifically for strength and power, but notice how even Paul’s requests draws the focus to the Father as he acknowledges the power would come through God’s Spirit. What a powerful and God honoring prayer that we would do well to model. I couldn’t help but think of another verse as I was writing – one that is most likely very familiar to you as well.

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15

The above comments were written when I was soaping this verse a year ago. My observations this time around were very much the same but also included the following:

  • looking back to verse 1 for insight to the phrase, “For this reason”, which could also include his opening words – “For the sake of the Gentiles”. focusing on the goal to reach all people with the Gospel message.
  • Noting, as I have before, that the posture of kneeling is believed to be a gesture of attributing lordship to God
  • However, perhaps the best additional nugget of truth was a deeper look at his particular prayer that they be strengthened with power through His Spirit, “in the inner person”. As noted above, Paul was drawing the focus to the Father and acknowledging the power would come from His Spirit, but how sweet is this last little phrase that serves as a reminder that “it’s who’s on the inside that makes us strong and able.”
    • Without His Spirit living in us we would not remember or understand what has been written in His Word – John 14:26
    • We would not be able to approach His throne – certainly not with confidence and boldness 1 John 5:14-15
    • We would not be able to claim with Paul, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – Phil 4:13
    • We would not have everything we need for a godly life or be able to participate in the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:3-4
    • We would not be able to claim the promises of benefits in this life and in the life to come – 1 Tim 4:8
    • We would not know peace of mind and heart – John 14:16-30 (27)

Sweet stuff – right? These are the truths we must cling to, they are the truths that should move us to live and pray as Paul did. They are the truths we should share with others

Father, help us not just to come boldly but to come with confidence and not just to come with confidence but with the distinct purpose of reaching all people with the message of the Gospel. Help us to live and to pray in the Spirit – to continually be growing and straining toward the righteousness you desire for Your children – for we are called by Your name – saved by the blood of Your Son, and filled with Your Spirit in who we are made strong and able! – Amen, In Jesus’ Name –

Heres a little line from a song that came to mind as I was writing … “My God is so big so strong and [able] there’s nothing that He cannot do …” May it get stuck in your head and lived out in your life and prayers.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

The Power of Prayer

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The Importance of Prayer, AN LGG STUDY – w2d3

Read: Luke 8:40-42; Luke 8:49-56; Acts 9:36-43; SOAP: Acts 9:40

Prayer’s power adds to the depth of its importance. We must not be afraid of it nor negligent to use it. We must not use it for show but for the good of others, our own cares and needs, and always for the Glory of God. 💜 Mefromtheinsideout-

40 (But Peter sent them all outside), knelt down, and prayed. (Turning to the body), he said, “Tabitha, get up.” (Then) she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 9:40

Peter wasn’t ministering for ‘show’, but in private he followed the example he had undoubtedly witnessed in Jesus, including going when and where he knew he was being called, to do what he had been sent to do. Because Peter knew he needed to pray to the one who could truly heal He started by sending the crowd away, then – perhaps to refocus or simply the customary outward posture of prayer he “knelt down”. This was a physical way of attributing ‘lordship’ to another person, or in this situation – the God to whom he prayed. I must admit, while many people still make a habit of kneeling today, many more don’t – including myself, at least not all the time. This doesn’t mean I am not attributing lordship to Jesus or God when I pray but simply that for me, most often, this is done from a posture of the heart. Notice that it was only after Peter had dispersed the crowd, knelt down, and prayed that he boldly used the authority Christ had given the disciples and spoke to the dead woman. Because he did, she rose from her dead condition. We must not miss what followed – Peter presented her alive to the people and because of this many believed in the Lord, v. 41-42 . Clearly, when we start with the Lord as our focus, when we surrender to His lordship, and pray (then) the outcome will be blessed. Obviously, he had learned much from his time with Jesus and was putting it into practice and in return he was seeing the power of prayer played out – and not just him but all those who witnessed what had happened. We too can learn much from watching Jesus – the way He lived, loved, and worked/served. May we prioritize as Peter did, not for show – but for the sake of others, and in this may God be glorified.

He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:41-42
Applying our SOAP passage (Acts 9:40) might look like this …
  • Be obedient to God’s calling on your life: to live and love like Jesus (John 13:34)
    • Peter was there because he had been surrendered to the call on his life (38-39)
      • One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
  • Like Peter (40) – Be bold and faithful in using the authority God has given us (Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
  • When you are distracted in ministering or in prayer – send the distraction “outside”. (Matt 16:23)
  • Be intentional and set your mind on the things of God and not the things of man. (Colossians 3:2)
  • Don’t get caught up on what “was”, and cause yourself to miss the beauty of what might be – in this case –> God’s power to heal and raise the dead. (Acts 9:39-40)
  • Don’t be a distraction to others who are seeking to focus on God or to do His work (Matt. 16:23)

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

Be sure and check out today’s LGG blog post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Reconcile With Others

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Inspired by the LGG study, “The Importance of Prayer”, w2d2

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:17-23; SOAP Matthew 5:23-24

23 (So then), if you bring your gift to the altar and there (you remember that your brother has something against you,) 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

“So then” refers to something that came before, which in this case would be the teaching of Jesus that unity between believers was very important, vs.17-22. Verses 21 and 22 specifically referred to anger, murder, insults, and even careless words and the judgement these things would bring. Bringing your gift to the altar [worshipping] was important business between man and God – but the teaching here indicates, even more, the value God places on a pure heart, which includes right relationships with others*. So great was the priority of your relationship with others that Jesus said it would be better to delay the act of worshipping God to settle the issue. Make note here that the teaching isn’t to forego worship because of anger but to lay ‘it’ aside until there has been reconciliation and then return to worship. Also note that this verse isn’t talking about you being wronged but about someone who believes you have wronged them in some way. Jesus’ teaching is vital to the unity of the body. The bottom line is. We must care so much about others that we seek to not offend them and to quickly make things right if we do.

Jesus replied, the most important commandment is this: Listen O Israel, the Lord our God is the one and only Lord and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and with all your mind. The second is equally important, love your neighbor as your self. No other commandment is greater than these.

Mark 12:29-31

*For more on being pure-in-heart visit https://www.gotquestions.org/pure-in-heart.html

Matthew 5:8