Restitution is the act of restoring to another what has been lost or taken. It may involve making payment for stolen items. It takes responsibility for its trespasses; it does not justify them. It acknowledges the importance of relationships, and often restores them to be better than before. It offers heartfelt apologies, and does whatever it can to make things right or whole again. It is an expression of sincere repentance. Wise parents have used it to teach their own children when they have taken something that did not belong to them. It should be practiced under the guidance of the Spirit and under the umbrella of genuine repentance.
“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham’.” Luke 19:8-9 (NKJV)
