Daily Devotional December 15th

No Other Way by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
1 Kings 8:33-34
"When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers."

No Other Way

In The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson, the cartoon character Calvin says to his tiger friend, Hobbes, "I feel bad that I called Susie names and hurt her feelings. I'm sorry I did it." "Maybe you should apologize to her," Hobbes suggests. Calvin ponders this for a moment and replies, "I keep hoping there's a less-obvious solution."

We're all like Calvin, aren't we? But sometimes there are no other solutions. The consequences of sin are serious. Wise King Solomon pointed out what Israel eventually would experience as a disobedient nation: defeat and enslavement to her enemies. The Northern Kingdom was taken into captivity in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom lasted a little longer, but sin brought about its defeat in 586 B.C. Yet when Israel sincerely confessed her sins before God, as Solomon promised, He restored the people to their land and to Himself.

Sin in a Christian's life also brings defeat. Satan needs only a small foothold in a believer's life, and he will use this advantage to hinder spiritual growth in every possible way. Continued, unconfessed sin ultimately will result in bondage. The only way out is the obvious solution. The apostle John says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

If you are experiencing spiritual defeat in your life, if you are in bondage to sin, you know what you must do. The solution is obvious. Repent of your sin, confess it to God, agree with Him that in thought, word or deed you have transgressed against Him, and receive His forgiveness. Let the blood of Christ cleanse and restore you.

Don't wait for other solutions; confession of sin is the only way.