RESTITUTION IS NECESSARY SPIRITUAL CLEANSING

For taking your time to study remain blessed.

TOPIC: RESTITUTION IS NECESSARY  SPIRITUAL CLEANSING July Sunday 5th

TEXT: Luke 19:1-10

KEY VERSE: 1Samuel 12:3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

If you are born again, there is something you have to do to declare to the people in practical terms that you are now a new creature. You have to adorn (wear as a garment) the gospel of Christ. Think about the murmurings of the people. When Jesus was going to the house of Zacchaeus and said, “Zacchaeus, I must abide in your house.” The people murmured because they knew Zacchaeus was a sinner. Zacchaeus knew that if he did not rectify his past, they would accuse Jesus (they were already complaining against Jesus because they said He was going to be a guest in the house of a sinner).

Zacchaeus stood and declared to the people saying, “The half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold”. And Jesus announced to the people, “Today is salvation come to this house” (Luke 19:8). That was an evidence that salvation had come to Zacchaeus. Restitution is a practical evidence that a new thing has been done in your life.

God commanded the practice of restitution among the Jewish society. It was an integral part of the Jewish law as seen in the above Scriptures. However, we must understand that the practice of restitution, by human conscience, has been existing in the human society as the will of God before the Law of Moses. It is a practice among people, whether they are heathens, civilized or uncivilized. It is a practice in human society which goes beyond the law and the gospel era. Hence, it is the integral part of the gospel message.

What may not be considered today is the specifications of the law on how restitution should be done, such as, “he should pay double,” or “he should pay four-fold,” or “he should add the fifth part (20%) thereto.” These are the specifications of the law which have been abolished. In our present dispensation, while we are not going by percentage of the law, the doctrine of restitution still applies. Restitution is a moral law which is required for the wellbeing of human beings, just as the principle of brotherly love is a moral law: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” No moral law of God is abolished; hence restitution is as valid today as in years past.

Thought for the day: Do your restitution to perfect your life and prepare for heaven.

Song for the day: Open my eyes oh Lord, open my eyes oh Lord…..I am ready to obey

Bible reading for the day: Job 31-32; Acts 13:1-23

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