Confession: February 19, 2013

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2013

CONFESSION

DEFINITION:

The act or statement of admitting to having done something wrong; acknowledging guilt; admitting one’s sin to God.

SCRIPTURE:

Be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

How many times in your life have you done something wrong and never got caught? It happens to all of us. When our wrong is discovered, several options come to our mind. One may opt to deny knowing anything about the issue and try to hide it. Another choice would be to blame someone else or something else for the problem.  The right way is to admit and confess.

Confession is also the key for one who desires to have a relationship with Christ. Romans 10:9 reads, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

In Joshua 7, the children of Israel had a problem with a hidden sin that few knew about. God had given the Israelites an easy victory over Jericho which was so well fortified that it seemed unconquerable. The Israelites obeyed God and did just as He commanded them and God caused the walls to come tumbling down so Israel could charge right in and take over the city.

In their next battle the Israelites were soundly defeated by Ai, a small unfortified city. Why? It was because of hidden unconfessed sin. (Joshua 7)

God had commanded Israel to take all the silver, gold, bronze and iron items and bring them to the treasury of the Lord. However, Achan took some of these things that were to be devoted to the Lord. He had hidden them by burying them in the ground. Consequently, his hidden sin brought trouble on all the Israelites. Only when that hidden sin was discovered and Achan confessed could Israel win the victory.

Confession to God ensures forgiveness. This is a principle that we as believers must acknowledge and make part of our life. Sin does great damage and unless we confess our sin and deal with it, we will face certain defeat.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 23:1.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

PRAYER:

Help me to understand my need for confessing my sins. Help me not to be controlled by any hidden sin. May my relationship with You be such that I live a life each day that is according to Your will.