READ: GENESIS 20:1-14
Restitution is the act
of returning what was violently taken away, stolen or obtained by deceit. It
was practiced before the law as can be seen in today’s reading. When the law
was given to Moses, it was further entrenched (Leviticus 6:1-7). In Luke
19:1-10, our Lord Jesus Christ lent credence to its practice by approving
Zacchaeus’ restitution plan. The early church was not left out as we see Apostle
Paul restituting to the high priest (Acts 23:1-5). God expects all believers to
restitute as a way of having a clear conscience towards man while salvation
provides a clear conscience towards God.
Everything you have stolen should be returned to its rightful owner. If you have been a false witness against someone, God expects you to confess the truth to the fellow. Before we knew the Lord, a number of us did some terrible things. Some of them amounted to laying a faulty foundation for the future. For instance, as students, many of us cheated our way through. Some paid people to sit for their exams. There are some people who have hardly sat for any examination by themselves. Their whole life is a lie. Today, they are working with certificates they never earned. To show that you are now truly born again, necessary restitution should follow.
Even in the world today, leaders, individuals, communities and nations are admitting to acts of wrong and making restitution either in or outside the courts. Why are believers who are supposed to be the light of the world refusing to do so? It is because their flesh is not yet dead. Whatever the consequences of restitution, God expects you to prayerfully and patiently endure them. You may meet with shame, loss of respect, demotion in your place of work, or even imprisonment. It is more tolerable than being thrown into eternal hell for refusing to do it. Some believers steal by trick. Whenever they borrow things from others, they refuse to return such items. It automatically becomes theirs. Do you know such things can disqualify you from heaven? Have you stolen somebody’s husband or wife? Restore the fellow immediately. Have you used forged or stolen certificate or did you cheat in any way to obtain it? Restitute. Have you been telling lies to your pastor or in the forms you fill in the office? Restitute. Return all you have stolen and God will heal you.
Everything you have stolen should be returned to its rightful owner. If you have been a false witness against someone, God expects you to confess the truth to the fellow. Before we knew the Lord, a number of us did some terrible things. Some of them amounted to laying a faulty foundation for the future. For instance, as students, many of us cheated our way through. Some paid people to sit for their exams. There are some people who have hardly sat for any examination by themselves. Their whole life is a lie. Today, they are working with certificates they never earned. To show that you are now truly born again, necessary restitution should follow.
Even in the world today, leaders, individuals, communities and nations are admitting to acts of wrong and making restitution either in or outside the courts. Why are believers who are supposed to be the light of the world refusing to do so? It is because their flesh is not yet dead. Whatever the consequences of restitution, God expects you to prayerfully and patiently endure them. You may meet with shame, loss of respect, demotion in your place of work, or even imprisonment. It is more tolerable than being thrown into eternal hell for refusing to do it. Some believers steal by trick. Whenever they borrow things from others, they refuse to return such items. It automatically becomes theirs. Do you know such things can disqualify you from heaven? Have you stolen somebody’s husband or wife? Restore the fellow immediately. Have you used forged or stolen certificate or did you cheat in any way to obtain it? Restitute. Have you been telling lies to your pastor or in the forms you fill in the office? Restitute. Return all you have stolen and God will heal you.
MEMORIZE:
GENESIS 20:7 –Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and
he shall pray for you, and you shall live; and if you restore her not, know you
that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours.
