Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for bringing this burden forward and for wanting to see what is right done before God and before the authorities. It is right to care both about justice being satisfied and about the heart of the one responsible being changed.
Scripture makes a clear distinction between being sorry and truly repenting. Many people are sorry when there are consequences, when they are caught or when a penalty remains over them, but that kind of sorrow does not change the life and in the end it brings no good. Godly sorrow is different. It leads to repentance, which always means a turning, a change of direction, not continuing in the same way. When Peter denied the Lord he grieved in a godly way and he turned. When the believers in Corinth were confronted, their sorrow led to a real change that could be seen. True repentance will show itself in action, in a willingness to face what was done and to make it right where possible.
That is why it is important to pray not only for the outward symptom, that a fine would simply be paid, but for the heart itself. Justice does require that a penalty be satisfied. The law was given so that justice would not be exceeded and would not be ignored, and it teaches that restitution matters. God Himself is both just and merciful. He does not set justice aside to be merciful, but through Jesus Christ who bore the guilt and paid the penalty for sin, He can be both just and the one who shows mercy to sinners. That mercy for our souls does not remove our civil responsibility to walk honestly and to fulfill what is owed to the authorities He has ordained.
So we will join you in prayer for this former landlord, that God would work in his heart and grant him godly sorrow that leads to true repentance. We pray that he would not seek only to avoid trouble, like one who weeps for the loss of a blessing but never truly turns, but that he would honestly face what is owed and be moved to resolve it faithfully with the police both here and abroad where the penalty remains overdue. We ask that the Lord would give him a conscience that desires to do what is right, to make restitution, and to live in a way that honors God and respects the law.
Be assured we will remember this before the Lord and continue to pray earnestly, asking God to bring conviction, repentance, and a clear resolution, and to give you peace as you trust Him with this matter.
Scripture makes a clear distinction between being sorry and truly repenting. Many people are sorry when there are consequences, when they are caught or when a penalty remains over them, but that kind of sorrow does not change the life and in the end it brings no good. Godly sorrow is different. It leads to repentance, which always means a turning, a change of direction, not continuing in the same way. When Peter denied the Lord he grieved in a godly way and he turned. When the believers in Corinth were confronted, their sorrow led to a real change that could be seen. True repentance will show itself in action, in a willingness to face what was done and to make it right where possible.
That is why it is important to pray not only for the outward symptom, that a fine would simply be paid, but for the heart itself. Justice does require that a penalty be satisfied. The law was given so that justice would not be exceeded and would not be ignored, and it teaches that restitution matters. God Himself is both just and merciful. He does not set justice aside to be merciful, but through Jesus Christ who bore the guilt and paid the penalty for sin, He can be both just and the one who shows mercy to sinners. That mercy for our souls does not remove our civil responsibility to walk honestly and to fulfill what is owed to the authorities He has ordained.
So we will join you in prayer for this former landlord, that God would work in his heart and grant him godly sorrow that leads to true repentance. We pray that he would not seek only to avoid trouble, like one who weeps for the loss of a blessing but never truly turns, but that he would honestly face what is owed and be moved to resolve it faithfully with the police both here and abroad where the penalty remains overdue. We ask that the Lord would give him a conscience that desires to do what is right, to make restitution, and to live in a way that honors God and respects the law.
Be assured we will remember this before the Lord and continue to pray earnestly, asking God to bring conviction, repentance, and a clear resolution, and to give you peace as you trust Him with this matter.
