Text: 1 Samuel 12:1-5
Memory verse:
”This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.“
Acts 24:16 NKJV
Repentance and restitution have a strong correlation. While repentance may not be visible, being an inner transformation, restitution is a visible evidence of that transformation. Restitution gives you a clear conscience before God and man. You need both to receive a pass before God. Some will boast and say, “I don’t care about what people say about me, as long as my conscience is clear towards God”. Yes, while that may be true yet one must be cautious not to gravitate into error. Firstly, it is true because the judgment of man may not always be right and you shouldn’t always measure your life by what your opponents say about you (Tit 2:8, 1 Pet 3:16). Of course, they said all sorts of unimaginable things about our Lord Jesus Himself!
However, this will be a grave error if your opponents’ accusations are true about you. This should not be ignored as being inconsequential as it can be a great stumbling block on your journey to eternity with God. Jesus warned about this, “”Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don’t, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail.“ (Matt 5:25 CEV).
This is what Samuel did, according to our text. He was ready to make restitution where necessary in order to have a clear conscience before God and the people.
Even though restitution, in itself, does not save, yet it can put our salvation at risk. Let’s look at it logically. How can you still hold on to the things you took away from others wrongly before you got saved and expect to receive a pass at the gate of righteousness? Or will the hurting victims of your past wickedness, whom you did not make peace with in your lifetime, even when you had all the opportunities, not witness against you at the throne of judgment? This is what Ezekiel 33:15-16 says, ”if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“ (Ezek 33:15). Did you notice one of the conditions for being completely cleared? ‘’…gives back what he has stolen’.
Friends, let’s receive sound doctrine and take restitution seriously. Always remember that eternity is too long to be wrong, and eternity doesn’t have an exit gate or a return route!
Prayer points
1. Father, help me to always strive to have a conscience devoid of offense before God and man, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, open my eyes to anything I am doing or that I have not done right that can put my eternity with You at risk, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I will always strive to have a clear conscience before God and man.
2. Restitution in itself does not save me, yet it is able to put my salvation at risk if I ignore it.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng