“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.”

The word amends in this context means paying restitution or a fine for foolish sin. There is a penalty to be paid for our sin. It’s also an encouragement to look for a way to make things right with those offended or wounded by our actions. Ultimately, it is a precursor to Jesus paying the fine for our sin through His willing death on the cross. In some Islamic countries, if a person is caught stealing, their penalty is to have their hand cut off. Pretty harsh. There is a story of a teenager caught stealing and sentenced to have his hand removed. Prior to the sentence being carried out, the young man’s father stepped forward and offered his own hand in place of his child’s. It was accepted, and the father lived out his days with only one hand. This is brutal and, I believe, wrong—but it paints a picture of how Jesus hears our sentence and steps forward, offering to take our death penalty on Himself. In that story, the boy was asked if he would accept his father’s offer. In the same way, we must willingly accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. In this verse, we also see that although we are forgiven, there are still consequences for our sin. Today, receive the great gift Jesus offers us—His life. #BeTheEdge

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8