If You Have Something That’s Not Yours, It Might Be Time To Give It Back

Romans 12:9, 21

Hanging onto things that don't belong to you brings trouble - spiritual and otherwise

Soul Food

Romans 12:9, 21

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Soul Search

• Can you recall a time when you had the big surprise of finding or coming across something that was valuable and did not belong to you?
  What was your first thought?
  Your first instinct?

• Have you ever been given something or borrowed something and forgot to return it?
  Or you simply decided not to return it?
  Or so much time has passed that you decided you would just let the idea of returning it go away?

• Can you think of something in your possession right now that you know doesn’t belong to you?
  Can you share with others what that might be?
  Can you talk about why you haven’t returned it up to now?

• What character trait in you does God want to deal with that would cause you not to return something that you know doesn’t belong to you?

Soul Moves

• If something in your possession that didn’t originally belong to you came to your mind during this devotional there is a high probability that it needs to be returned to its rightful owner.
  Make up your mind to return it.

• Ask God to show you clearly what healthy moral/spiritual growth He is trying to work in you through this.

• If you feel it’s right to – and that God wants you to - offer an explanation for why you’ve never returned the item(s), ask Him to give you the strength to be honest and forthright about the reasons why you didn’t return it sooner.
  It might be as simple as you forgot about it but it might also be that you had some moral or emotional challenges you were dealing with.
  You may or may not have to give any reason to the rightful owner but just be open to it.