Restitution?? (2)

Restitution?? - Part 2

Exodus 22:1–6 NKJV

1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. 5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. 6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

We learned two weeks ago about how important it is to make restitution with God. If you missed the first part, you can see it on our Facebook page or our Youtube Channel. We analyzed our live and really took a hard look at our relationship with the Lord. We dealt with questions such as “Am I living up to what it truly means to be a Christian?” “Am I being faithful in this covenant I made when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour?” It starts with being reconciled to God.

The next step is to make restitution with those people around us. Our family such as our spouse and our children. Make restitution with our friend, our neighbors, or anyone who is our sphere of influence and there is a wall between us.

Restitution is not easy but is necessary.

It is easy for us to want other people to make restitution with us, but it is a totally different matter when we need to make restitution with someone.

When we need to step out of our comfort zone and do something that is very uncomfortable. Jesus Christ stepped out of His comfort zone to take on the form of humanity.

Philippians 2:7 NKJV

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

How can we not step out and try to make restitution with our neighbor, our family, and our friends; with anyone we have a relationship with. Jesus Christ made a bridge in which we could be reconciled to God and He did not owe us anything.

To make restitution is not easy. It is not natural. It takes the working of the Holy Spirit on our hearts and in our lives. When we look at where we were and where we are know, we realize how important restitution is. The time is short and we are not guaranteed another day on this earth. We need to take the time we are given and make restitution.

James 4:14 NKJV

14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

So we see how important it is to make restitution. Now how do we do it? The answer seems so simple, but we have a way of making everything more difficult than it needs to be.

For example, lets say you want to call a business because you need help with a product this business makes. You call this business and then you encounter an auto-attendant. This is an extended automated phone menu to route phone calls. The description of this service according to ringcentral.com, “it efficiently connects callers to individuals, call queues, or locations within an organization, based on their selections from the menus”. How many times do you feel your phone call is being efficiently handled? I have been known to hang up and call back another time when I am more prepared to wait while my phone call is “efficiently” handled. My absolute favorite is when you have been on hold for so long that you are sure that you missed the second coming of Christ. You finally get a live person and they tell you that you have the wrong option and should of selected 3 instead of 4. You ask to be transferred and they no, i’m sorry, but you need to call back and choose the correct option. So you call back again, but maybe on another day.

So many people think God is that complicated. That He has an automated prayer menu. It is not that way with God. We do not select option #1 because we are in fear, #2 for comfort, #3 for peace, #4 financial healing, #5 physical healing, #6 for emotional healing, or #7 for relationship healing.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus Christ tells us exactly what we should do when we are seeking that relationship healing. When we know we need to make restitution with someone.

Matthew 5:23–24 NKJV

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Restitution is very important. It starts with being reconciled to God first. We cannot make restitution with our neighbor, until we are in good standing with God. We might need to repair our side of the covenant or maybe start one for the first time. That means starting with our ABC’s.

Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Believe

Acts 16:31 NKJV

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Confess

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.