DCLM Higher Everyday 25 April 2025 — Restitution Required
DCLM Higher Everyday 25 April 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Restitution Required
Topic: Restitution Required
Text: Exodus 22:1-7
1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
Key Verse: “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
Message
One of the cardinal teachings of the Scriptures is “restitution.” What then is restitution? Restitution is an act of making one’s way right by amending wrongs done against our fellow humans, paying back the debts we owe, restoring stolen things or things got by fraud, apologizing to those we have offended, and so on. It is sure of evidence that we are real children of God because sins involving restitution are both sins against God and against man.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 24 April 2025 – Pass The Gospel To A Person
Why do we need to do restitution? The number one basic reason why we must do restitution is that God commands it (Leviticus 6:2-5). Whatever God says is final! Moreover, doing restitution is also evidence of genuine salvation (Luke 19:8). Zacchaeus promised our Lord Jesus Christ to restore anything he had taken wrongly (Luke 19:8), King Abimelech restored Abraham’s wife (Genesis 20:14), and the great Apostle Paul apologized to the High Priest (Acts 23:5). The benefits of making our restitution are manifold: unbroken relationship with God; peace with God and man, and a conscience void of offence.
Quote: Whatever God says is final!
Challenge: Have you done your restitution?
Prayer for today: Oh God! Give me the grace to make my restitutions.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
