WHEN SORRY IS NOT ENOUGH
Have you ever had someone apologize to you, and you knew it was insincere?
They said ‘sorry,’ but never changed their behavior towards you.
How did that make you feel?
Hammers are a lot like the words we speak—they can either be used like framing hammers which build and create or, they can be used like sledgehammers that destroy and tear down.
Besides a pounding side though, hammers also have a ‘nail-pull’ side. When a nail has been mis-pounded, the nail-pull helps to pull that thing back out.
Our words also have one, and, when one has been misspoken, we must use our ‘spiritual nail-puller’ to pull that harmful word back out. We do this by going to the one we have hurt by asking for forgiveness.
However, when a nail is pulled back out, a gaping hole is left. It is vital to patch that hole to prevent moisture from getting in and causing wood-rot. In the same manner, when a word has been misspoken, and that word is pulled out unless that hole is patched, sin and resentment can penetrate the hole and cause relationship-rot.
We patch the hole by making Restitution for the pain we’ve inflicted. It is never good enough to say, “I’m sorry,” we must also show our sincerity by making amends.
Exodus 21:24, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” On the surface, this seems to be about revenge. But it is not. It is about making restitution.
If I hurt you and Caused you to lose an eye, which then caused you to miss work, which then caused you not to be able to take care of your family—then it is my duty to pay you back in the value of what I have caused you harm. In this aspect, I would pay you back time-off of work, help with your family, and everything else that concerns your eye.
Zacchaeus, who was a crooked tax collector— was convicted by the Holy Spirit to restore not just 1/5th what he stole (according to the Mosaic Law Covenant), but he desired to restore four times that what he stole. Christ rewarded his changed heart by saying, “Today, salvation has come to your house.”
If you have harmed anyone with your words, I encourage you to seek out forgiveness. Even more, I encourage you to make restitution for the pain you have caused.Buy a gift, send a card, or make a call. You will be glad you did.
“Today salvation has come to YOUR house.”
If you want to learn more about restitution, let my book The Pink Toolbelt—Spiritual Remodeling for Women help you. It is a remodeling guide to help you spiritually remodel all areas of your life so that you become a mirror image of Christ. BUY IT TODAY!
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