GOD’S RESCUE SQUAD DAY 337 - I am a big, big proponent of accountability. I have led two large men’s ministries, and in both of those I pushed, pushed, pushed accountability. What accountability partners do for you is to keep ‘account of your abilities’. Obviously, we can have good abilities, but we are also quite capable of bad abilities as well. There are a number of Scriptures that address the necessity of accountability in every Believer’s life. Take for instance Galatians 6:1, 2 and 10 - “ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ . . . Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of Believers.” One of the things that shocked me most as a new Christian is our tendency to eat and devour our own. Many of God’s creatures are known for this, but we shouldn’t expect it – of all places – within the Body of Christ. After all, we were all previously condemned to death, and even worse in the hereafter. Yet, that is exactly what I witnessed . . repeatedly. I would see a fellow Believer get derailed and while they were laid out and bleeding on the battlefield of life, their fellow Believers would thrash, kick and beat them a bit more. Of course, plenty of religious terminology flew about during this holier-than-thou butt kicking. Instead, what the Scripture presses us to do is just the opposite. In the Galatians passage above, the Apostle Paul wrote that, “if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Did you get that last word? G-E-N-T-L-Y! (Yup, I’m screaming it.) Just as Christ restored and reconciled us to our Heavenly Father, we are called upon to “restore” our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ when they should go astray. We absolutely, categorically, definitely, unquestionably, positively, really, surely need each other. As men, we must have other Brothers in our lives who hold us accountable. Women must also have other Sisters in their lives who hold them accountable. Here’s a clue for you – even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. This explains why Paul wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Note that he didn’t say that we are to carry our own burdens. Why? Because we are not. If something is burdening us, we need to unload it on our accountability partners who will “gently” respond with Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in love. This is how we should live. Verse 10 seals the deal for us – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of Believers.” We are directed to “do good to all people”. Then Paul leaves a footnote – “especially to . . the family of Believers.” If you think about it, that makes a lot of sense. Seriously, are you more likely to “do good” for a complete stranger or your family members? Well, one would hope our family members, but again, I haven’t seen that played out consistently in the family of God. Brothers, find yourself one to three Brothers in Christ to whom you can be wholly transparent with. Sisters, you do the same except you find Sisters. Then, equally share life with each other. Challenge each other. Probe into each other’s lives. Ask for proof. Sign up for X3 Watch(x3watch). Share Scripture and ‘lessons learned’. Over time, you will come to find that you’ll never want to live without a set of accountability partners again. Don’t believe me? Then find out for yourself. C2013
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:59:48 +0000
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