Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, October 30, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-10-30-2017

This is devotional thought number 47 in our devotional series, “Removing the Veil: Sanctuary Living in the 21st Century.”

“AND THE Lord said to Moses, If anyone sins and commits a trespass against the Lord and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit given him to keep, or of bargain or pledge, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor, Or has found what was lost and lied about it, or swears falsely, in any of all the things which men do and sin in so doing, Then if he has sinned and is guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he secured by oppression or extortion, or what was delivered him to keep in trust, or the lost thing which he found,” (Leviticus 6:1–4, AMP).

This is serious business! All sin is serious, but if you have noticed, we are now seeing an even higher measure on our sin Richter Scale because intent matters. As we have already seen, intent or ignorance does not absolve anyone of our responsibility once we learn of our error. Sin is certainly not subjective. Although the Lord gives grace and mercy during times of unwillful ignorance so the guilt will not be held against us immediately, all sin is unrighteousness, regardless of the details.

I am going to break my rule, just this once (I think), and will make the remainder of this devotional thought a direct quote from Message Magazine’s publisher, the Review and Herald’s, Seventh-day Adventist Bible commentary. Give keen attention and you will realize why I would rather not reinvent the wheel on this subject.

“Inasmuch as all these cases require restitution, God prescribes for each an equitable penalty. First comes confession, then restitution. This is to be done “in the day of his trespass offering” (v. 5); in other words, restoration must accompany confession. It may not be delayed.
Restitution is a vital part of the program God sets before the man who would be free from the guilt of sin. Conviction of sin is not enough; sorrow for sin is not enough; confession is not enough. These are all desirable steps toward the kingdom, but they are not enough. They must be accompanied by a repentance so deep and thorough that the soul will not rest until every effort has been made to rectify mistakes that may have been made. This will in many cases include restoration, paying back with interest that which has been stolen, and making every effort to right wrongs. The fruits worthy of repentance that John the Baptist urged upon his hearers included restitution (Matt. 3:8).

“‘Trespasses’ include questionable business transactions, fraudulent representation of values, wrong impressions without actual falsification, intentional crookedness, and any advantage taken of the poor or unfortunate. “Trespasses” include exorbitant charges of all kinds, excessive interest on loans, dishonest work for wages received. The course of many a man who boasts of his business acumen and who receives the approbation and praise of others for his skill in negotiation is not approved in heaven (see Hab. 2:6).

“For these and many other things restitution must be made wherever possible. Where this cannot be done, it may be well to follow the instruction of old and “let the trespass be recompensed unto the Lord, even to the priest” (Num. 5:8). The present-day application of this instruction would require that the money involved be given to and used in the Lord’s work.
There are times when bankruptcy proceedings may be advisable. The debtor is thus cleared legally from his obligations and is enabled to make a new start. But the Christian is bound by Heaven to consider carefully...