Exodus 22:12  But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

When I was in high school, I had a friend that worked at a hardware store. They sold fishing equipment. I was talking with my friend about a reel I was interested in, but it was $100. He told me he could get it for me for $20. I didn’t ask questions and gave him the money. Later, when I became a Christian, the Lord reminded me of that reel. He told me I needed to make restitution - to make things right. I sought out the owner of the store, who had since retired, told him what I’d done and begged forgiveness. God used that to speak into both our lives.

In our world, a large number of people are always ready to show compassion when a crime is committed. But they often reserve their compassion for the one that committed the crime, rather than for the victim. God takes a different view. For God’s people, restitution is to be the standard. Restitution is not much fun, but it is a way to bring healing to both parties. It’s really a means of grace.

God takes crime seriously. He has a more blanket term for crime - sin. Sin is never “no big deal” to God. In fact, sin is death to any relationship with God. When we sin, we separate ourselves from God. God doesn’t want that. It broke God’s heart when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. But He didn’t ask them for restitution. There was no other payment than death. In fact, God exacts the death penalty for all sin! If it seems like a steep price. It is! But it is what He said so long ago.

But God knew we could never make things right. So He sent His only Son to die on a cross to pay the penalty. To make things right, Jesus had to come. We celebrate Him coming in a manger, but we should never forget that the manger was just the precursor to the cross.

He came to make things right!

Blessings,

Pastor Russ