Text: Philemon 1:10-21
Memory verse:
”The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.“
Psalms 37:21 NKJV
Let’s consider today some specific restitutions that God wants us to make.
Firstly, you should restore all the relationships that you broke out of anger or that got severed through your wrong actions or attitudes in the past. Onesimus was the fugitive slave of Philemon, who fled to Rome, having robbed his master. During his self-exile, he was converted, and he became a disciple of Paul (Philem 1:10). Through the facilitation of Paul, he returned to his master and their relationship was restored. Paul wrote to Philemon, ”If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.“ (Philem 1:18 NLT). Onesimus, whom Paul described as once unprofitable, had become profitable to both Philemon and Paul. Repentance, that is, a changed life, precedes restoration. If you are truly repentant, you will seek the restoration of all broken relationships that your past actions caused. An exception to this is the relationship that will draw you back to your old sinful life or entangle you again into the yoke of bondage (Gal 5:1).
Secondly, it is just proper to return all stolen items/money or any item/money that you borrowed but didn’t return to the owner or things you illegally converted to your own use.
“If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found,“ (Levit 6:4 NLT). This is what Zacchaeus also did (Luk 19:8).
God also describes non-payment of tithes and offerings as robbery, fraud, or cheating. The same law requires violators to make restitution by paying back all unpaid tithes and offerings. ”“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.“ (Mal 3:8 NLT).
What about the money you borrowed that you refused to talk about it again or pay back? This is the lifestyle of the wicked and not fitting for you as a believer, having being made righteous (Psa 37:21; 2 Cor 5:21). A mark of a changed life is the readiness to pay all outstanding debts and to owe no man anything, apart from love (Rom 13:8).
Finally, friends, don’t make restitution a formality but continue to live the new life after it.
Prayer points
1. Father, I receive wisdom on how to restore broken relationships, return items that are not mine, or to pay back all my debts in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, l receive grace to continue to live a changed life even after my restitution, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. With my new life in Christ, I make efforts to restore all relationships that were strained through my past sinful life.
2. Being now made righteous, I make efforts to pay all my debts and owe no man anything, apart from love.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng