I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5

Alexis Waller is an 11-year-old girl who hails from central Arkansas.

Waller is also an 11-year-old who knows how to make things happen. A few weeks ago the news told how she had a hankering to see a boy in Florida, whom she had met some two years ago. They had stayed in touch over that time, and she wanted to see him face to face.

To make her dream a reality, Waller took $10,000 from her grandmother's sock drawer. She left home in the middle of the night, hitched a ride with a stranger to a gas station, and called a taxi. When the taxi came, she told him she wanted him to take her halfway across the country. The driver asked for -- and received -- $1,000 in cash. With cash in hand, the cabbie started driving.

Meanwhile, Waller's family woke up, found her missing, and frantically began to search. The police were brought in and, having obtained her cell phone information, traced down the cab driver. When the police called, the driver and his fare were just outside Atlanta. Waller's parents, angry and relieved, drove all night to reclaim their daughter.

I think all of us rejoice that this story has turned out so well.

Having heard the story, let me ask, what do you think the Waller family is going to do?

1. They are going to push for laws that will force cab drivers to ask for identification if they are going to transport a possible minor across state lines, or

2. they will teach their daughter not to steal $10,000 from grandma, not to take rides from strangers, not to sneak out in the middle of the night to chase a boy.

If you selected number one, you are right. The Wallers are doing what most of us do: they are putting the responsibility, and the blame, on someone else. That's what Adam and Eve did. That's what the children of Israel did. That's what you and I often do. We don't confess our transgressions to God; we give excuses.

Well, that's not what the Lord wants from us, is it? Jesus didn't come into this world to sacrifice Himself so humanity might be able to explain away its sins and need for a Savior.

We are sinners and we guilty souls need to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court. We need to confess our transgressions to the Lord, who is rightly displeased. When we do that, we can be sure our Heavenly Father will -- because of His Son's sacrifice -- forgive those sins and help us live a better, more God-pleasing life.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive our arrogance, which tries to justify wrongdoing. Give us repentant hearts so that You may lift us up: restored and forgiven. This I ask in the Name of the Savior, who has made forgiveness possible. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 16-17    Matthew 5:27-48

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