Seize the Moment – Day 562
The Importance of Restitution!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, September 30.
What happens when saying sorry is not enough?
Numbers 5:6-8 explains the command of paying restitution as part of a person’s confession of sin:
When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the Lord, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged. But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.
Restitution is important because it is a sign of true brokenness over sin and a sincere desire to get right with the person from whom you are seeking forgiveness. The root of the Hebrew word for restitution means “to turn back, return.”
Restitution is yoked with our call to repent—the act of turning away from sin and to turning back (returning) to God!
How do we know when a person is truly returning to faithfulness to God and sincerely desiring to reconcile with the community of God’s people?
Is it enough to confess? Confession is the beginning, but it must be followed by life transformation—the active steps which demonstrate repentance!
Paying restitution, which requires you to go above and beyond the original offense, demonstrates that you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). It is a sign and wonder of the Holy Spirit to will and to work in you (Philippians 2:13).
Restitution invites the offended party to take the critical next step of offering forgiveness by accepting the restitution. This opens the door to future reconciliation!
Seize the moment and be a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).