Topic: Be Guided [Saturday February 11, 2017]
Text: Exodus 22:1-17
Key Verse: “And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good” (Exodus 22:14).
God is the Author of peace and not of disorderliness. And He commands: “let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). God established statutes that should guide/protect life and personal properties. Stealing and careless handling of the possessions of our neighbours attract stiff penalties. Although the Lord Jesus came to abolish the ceremonial laws of shedding of blood – animal sacrifices, the uniform teaching of God’s word expects all humans to treat life as being sacred.
Thus, Christ’s coming with the new covenant through His blood prohibits stealing in any form. Anarchy has no place among His sons and daughters. God expects His children, even those who had stolen before “…to steal no more” and “to walk circumspectly not as fools” handling people’s properties and possessions carelessly. Life is sacred; even the laws of the land prohibits taking the life of others at will and no society condones stealing and wanton destruction of what belongs to others. Where life has been taken carelessly or at will and properties/possessions mishandled, full restitution must be made under godly counselling. We must strive to serve God with “a conscience void of offence toward God” and towards our fellow humans. Although Jesus came to abolish certain parts of the ceremonial law that demand bloodshed – eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, His coming, nonetheless, did not approve any act that could trigger anarchy in society such as the ones listed in the text.
Today, the laws of the land also forbid taking another person’s life no matter the crime an individual might have committed. As children of God, we must always endeavour to be peacemakers. The doctrine of restitution is still in force. Every true believer must be ready to make restitution. As soon as we realise our faults toward others, we must restitute that which we may have wrongly taken or done. We must always strive to possess a conscience void of offence towards God and man.
Thought for the day: It is wisdom to possess a conscience that is beyond reproach.
Bible Reading in one Year: Psalm 68-71
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
