|
Journey: Amends
|
Journey From The Cross:
Amends
Morning Meditation
Read Romans 5:20-21
Rom 5:20-21 The Message
All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life — a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.
Ponder the laws of God. Have they kept you from sinning?
Sin does not have a chance in competition with grace. Lift your head with honor and accept God’s grace.
God is inviting you into life. Reach out your arms and embrace his invitation.
Enjoy a life that goes on and on, world without end.
Morning Prayer
Ask God for the willingness and courage to make amends for your sins.
If pride is getting in the way, confess to God.
Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise him in everything.
Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you and the power to carry that out.
Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Morning Bible Study
Previously, we made a list of our sins. We confessed to God and to another human being. God has graciously forgiven us. We still have a responsibility to the people we have harmed. Peace will be illusive until we have done our very best to make amends.
Read Exodus 22:3. A thief must make restitution.
Ex 22:3 NIV
A thief must certainly make restitution.
Read Exodus 22:3. Even when wrongs are unintentional, making restitution is still the honorable thing to do.
Ex 22:5 NIV
If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
Many use the excuse, “But it was an accident.” Read Exodus 22:6. Accidents are still cause for restitution.
Ex 22:6 NIV
If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
If you are still not convinced, read Numbers 5:6-9. When we wrong a man or woman in any way, we are being unfaithful to the Lord. Look at the instructions. We confess and make full restitution. Notice that if we are unable to make restitution to a person, we are to make restitution to God.
Num 5:6-9 NIV
When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.
“But wait!” you cry. “We live under grace. The scriptures you quoted were from the Old Testament. Jesus died for our sins. We are forgiven and need do nothing further.”
I understand your argument. I used to use it. Then I discovered the peace of making amends. Grace is not an excuse to be irresponsible to the people around us. If you doubt me, read a New Testament story in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector. The only way tax collectors became wealthy was to be a crooked. Jesus came to “seek and to save what was lost.” Zacchaeus was certainly lost or he would never have climbed that tree to see Jesus. Jesus “welcomed him gladly.” He visited his home in spite of criticism. Yes, Jesus gave Zacchaeus grace but the story did not stop there. Zacchaeus gave half of his wealth to the poor and paid back the people he cheated by four fold. After all, he owed them the money.
Luke 19:1-10 NIV
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Yes, we are supposed to make amends. The word amend means to change for the better. Our personal journeys require that we constantly change for the better. If we say something inappropriate, we apologize. If we owe someone something, we pay. If we break something, we fix it or replace it. If our behavior is causing pain, we apologize and change our behavior. If we choose to ignore this step, our spiritual life will be hampered.
So, become willing to make amends. Remember at all times, you are already forgiven! You have nothing for which to be ashamed. Your savior has already made you perfect and is in the process of making you holy. (Hebrews 10:14) Cooperate with the process of “making you holy” by making amends.
Hebrews 10:14 NIV
By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Application
I had the privilege to hear the author, Henry Blackaby, speak. “Your work for God will be hampered if there is any sin between you and God. Every sin against others is a sin against God.”
He told the story of a Sunday morning in his life and ministry. He and his wife woke up a little late. They were tired and grumpy. He found himself snapping at her. As he went to give his sermon, he felt God telling him not to open his mouth until he had made things right with his wife. Henry quickly found his wife and apologized. He was then able to do the work of his Father.
Take your list of sins. Beside each sin, write the names of the people harmed by the sin. Be honest. Pray about each one, asking God what amend, if any, you owe. Be gentle on others and hard on yourself. Focus on yourself and forget any harm they may have done you. If you feel a confession is the correct course, be prudent. Never harm anyone with a confession. We do not have the right to relieve our conscious at the expense of hurting someone. Amends can be as simple as a hug or as complicated as writing a large check. God will show you the correct way. If you are in any doubt, call you Christian friend and discuss it.
At this point, I feel the need to give a warning. Most people will respond favorably but some may not. There may be too much bitterness and hurt. They may be having a bad day. It is even possible they will not believe you are sincere. Do what you can and release their reactions into the hands of God. You have no reason to feel defensive. Your savior has already forgiven you.
|
|