“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12
I’ve never been held more accountable for my beliefs and actions until I became a mother. It could feel like a curse sometimes, a constant vigilance over my words, beliefs, actions, but it truly is a blessing. It is like having a little messenger from God sitting with you reminding you who God has asked you to be. Children notice everything and when you have gained their respect, you want to maintain it as it took so much time to build.
When we are young, we have parents, teachers, coaches, other adults letting us know when we step out of line, but as an adult, if we have not learned to “obey” we have free reign to start making whatever choices we want and if we aren’t careful, that lack of accountability can send us down a path filled with some regrets.
In our home, I get challenged probably daily with things like, “I don’t want to do that, I never wanted to do (fill in the blank) in the first place.” Or maybe a slight ignoring of something I have gently stated to be done or stop doing. I may even get that “ok, later” type of response which means, I will have to be saying it again soon when that first time gets forgotten. My least favorite response, I think is the “Well ‘(fill in brother’s name) was doing (fill in activity) so I (fill in excuse).” What is happening I have realized more and more is a lack of accountability.
But God… He reminds us that
“…we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
One day, we will all stand before God and answer to our choices. We won’t have mom standing there with us to defend us. We won’t have brother or sister standing next to us to cast blame. We won’t have a husband or wife standing there to set the record straight. It will just be ourselves.
While we are young, God has asked us to honor our parents. It is a command; however, I believe the bigger picture concept is learning how to obey at all. Learning how to respect an authority figure or rules in general. Ideally, the parent you are obeying is honoring God in their parenting style; however, that isn’t always the case. But the true gift of learning to obey is when that obedience transfers back to God. When your ears are trained to hear His whisper and act quickly in the way He calls.
I’m not sure if I read this somewhere or made it up, but it came out of my mouth yesterday to one of my son’s, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” Timing does matter.
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17
Many scenarios in life show the importance of timing your obedience. If a parent yells stop to a child about to cross in front of a car, seconds matter. If your lawn gets mowed just before the rain, timing mattered. Deeper still, making the phone call to someone the Lord has placed on your mind rather than putting it off matters too. We don’t always see the other side or the benefit to our obedience but it is no less important to the big picture.
I have a wall hanging with this quote: “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” However, I think I would adjust that to “Blessings are a matter of preparation for a long period of patience followed by prompt obedience.” We cannot receive the blessings if we do not follow the steps and at times act quickly.
Is there a person in your life you blame for the things that go wrong? Do you have excuses why certain things aren’t being done in your life or happening in your home or relationships? I’m sure if we dig down; we all have at least a few of them. Today, let’s surrender our accountability. Let’s be brave and own our part and see what God can do with our obedience as we hold ourselves accountable for our own actions.
Father, you tell us that if we …ask, it will be given to us; seek, and we will find; knock, and the door will be opened (Luke 11:9). Today we ask you to help us be accountable. Help us to seek solutions to our difficulties. Help us to knock on the right doors to make positive change in our life. Please let us feel your presence with us as we do these hard things and encourage us along the way. It is in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Holding myself accountable with you, Julie
P.S. Today’s image is of the two that God sent to hold me most accountable. They challenge me and bless me daily and keep my eyes on God. Thank you Father for these daily reminders you are with me, you have never left me, and you are not afraid to challenge me to keep me accountable because you love me. The three of us when preparing to tackle a tough job will often put our hands in and instead of saying 1, 2, 3, we say, “Iron sharpens iron,” (Proverbs 27:17). They don’t like it, ha, but it is a reminder that we need each other to sharpen each other because one day we will hold an account for ourselves.
Father, Today I Surrender:
My Accountability
Show me the next step I should take.