Numbers 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Speak to the children of Israel: 'When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the LORD, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged.'"

It wasn't too long ago that an elderly man walked into his local Sears store and handed the manager an envelope. Inside it was a crisp $100 bill. It represented the $20 dollars he stole from Sears some 60 years earlier, plus interest! Along with the money was a note of apology asking for forgiveness for the money that was stolen so long ago.

What a great example of true repentance! He didn't just feel sorry for his actions and ask Sears to forgive him, he responded to the deep conviction in his heart with action of restitution. They go together in our lives - words and actions. Both are so needed.

Reading about this unnamed man reminded me of a man named Zacchaeus. After his encounter with Jesus, his life was changed forever, both in word and in deed! He too responded with words of sorrow, but more importantly made the changes in his life to make things right with those he had hurt. The Bible says of his encounter with Jesus:

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; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Luke 19:8-10 (NKJV)

Perhaps the Lord has been tugging on your heart recently and feelings of sorrow and remorse are surfacing. Follow them up with action, making things right with those you've wronged. Give God a chance to do great and wonderful things in reconciliation, even if it's been over 60 years since the offense occurred!