Accountability

God's Justice Prevails (Isaiah 17-23)

12:30 AM


Last week, I wrote about how life is not fair.  Isaiah reminds us however, that God is in control and He holds the scales of justice. All of mankind is accountable for his choices, beliefs, and actions. 

According to Billy Graham: “Modern man does not like to think of God in terms of wrath, anger and judgment. He likes to make God according to his own ideas and give God the characteristics he wants Him to possess. Man tries to remake God to conform to his own wishful thinking, so that he can make himself comfortable in his sins.
This modern god has the attributes of love, mercy and forgiveness, but is without justice. Man doesn’t want to be judged and punished for sin. He “reconstructs” God along the lines of tolerance, all-embracing love and universal goodwill.”

In today’s modern world this is very true. Many live without regard for God’s truth and holiness.  Often, it seems that they also prosper in their endeavors. In these chapters, Isaiah gave warning to the people of His day that God would bring to ruin what man had prospered to build with his own hands and would destroy the very things that man depended on apart from God. At some point, all of mankind has to acknowledge his Maker. 

“In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense. In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation.” (Isaiah17:7-9)

Even Egypt in all of its wealth and prosperity would know hard times when the “sacred Nile”  they depended on ceased to provide its resources. The idols and magicians they turned to for counsel and deliverance would fail to deliver and the Egyptian empire would struggle as its power weakened. But, God would also show that even though he must judge sin, He also chooses to show mercy to those who realize their need for His salvation. This mercy would be extended to those in Egypt who acknowledged Him. 
“And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.” (Isaiah 19:21-22)

When we stray from God, He lovingly and justly disciplines us too. But, He longs to get our attention and reconcile us to Him. Do not be discouraged when evil seems to thrive around you.  God sees all and He is always in control.  Because He is Holy, all will be judged.  Because He is merciful, we who trust in Christ will know His salvation and restoration.  God’s justice will prevail! 

1 Corinthians

Seeking Counsel {1 Corinthians 6}

11:00 PM




By Becky Bramlett Austin

Paul opens this chapter with a thought provoking question for the church of Corinth. “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” (v 1). Paul is obviously concerned about how this church represents Christ to the unbelieving world.  In this Greek city, judges often sat in public places to hear cases and disputes. Paul was appalled that the church did not choose to settle disputes among believers but instead, were putting their grievances against each other on display. 

There are varying opinions today about if Christians should sue others or take disputes against others to court. I think that such important steps should be taken only with careful consideration and prayer to discern God's will. I do, however wish to comment about how wonderful it has been for me personally to seek the assistance of pastors and counselors in the church. 13 years ago my husband and I were separated, living in different towns and divorce papers were sitting in the lawyers office. We had tried counseling a few times with secular counselors and I truly think it just made our circumstances more difficult to resolve.   Our pastor referred us to a Christian counselor and that made all the difference. We were able to refocus our marriage on Christ and just this year celebrated 25 years of marriage. God used that crisis in our lives to glorify Christ. Christian counseling has been invaluable to me on several other occasions as well.

It makes sense that the body of Christ should be equipped to help believers with conflicts, and relationship challenges. Paul asks a 2nd question. 

“Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” (v3) Wow!  A glimpse into our future roles as we reign with Christ!  Very exciting I think. But even today, Christ through the Word and the Spirit imparts wisdom to us and he teaches us about doing life with each other.  If our focus is to glorify Christ, then our behavior toward each other is of great importance. 

This also is true in our intimate relationships with others. In this age of "casual sex" and immoral lifestyles on display all around us, we have to be careful just as in the days of immoral Corinth. Paul reminds us that our intimate relationships are meant to glorify and honor God. There is no such thing in God's eyes as "casual sex".  We are meant to be a temple. 

‭‭“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (v19-20)

Paul reminds us of how special we are in God's eyes.  How He takes our sinful condition and transforms us:
“..But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (v11)
WASHED: Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

SANCTIFIED: Colossians 1:21-22
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
JUSTIFIED: 2 Cor 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (KJV)
We represent God to a lost world.  The lifestyle choices we make tell the world about Christ.  How we deal with our differences and disputes also tell the world about Christ.  The world is self- seeking and focused on " my rights". As His body, the church should be well equipped to offer help and counseling. Even when faced with difficulties and injustices,  our focus should be "serving Christ, serving each other".

Accountability

Don't be a Donna June {Romans 14}

2:54 AM



By Lisa Moore

Every time I read this chapter in Romans, in my mind I hear my Grandmother's voice saying to me as she did many times, "Don't be a Donna June!"  Donna June was a friend of hers who would often come to visit and share a cup of coffee, a cookie, or perhaps a slice of cake.  I remember sitting in the kitchen enjoying my own snack and listening intently to her and my Grandmother's conversations about life, the people at church, and their views on faith.  Donna June was impressive.  There wasn't a Bible verse she couldn't recite, or a chapter she didn't know inside and out.  And boy she wasn't afraid to let you know it.  She would quiz me on the spot about the Bible, and if I didn't know the answer she would look down her nose at me while shaking her head.  My encounters with her always left me feeling so discouraged.  She was regarded as what my Grandmother called  a "know it all".  As a child whenever I was being "a know it all", my Grandmother would whisper in my ear, "Don't be a Donna June".  

Christians judging fellow believers goes against what Jesus taught.  Although the Bible is very specific about holding each other accountable, judgment and accountability are two very different things.  Accountability comes from a heart of love, judgement from a heart of pride.  In Romans 14 Paul begins, "Now accept the one that is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgement on his opinions." (v. 1)  Each of us are at different levels of spiritual maturity.  Some are stronger and some weaker than others.  What makes one person stumble, can be no problem for the next.  We each grow at our own pace.  And as long as whatever decisions we make, or actions we take are based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the intention of honoring God, they aren't up for judgement.  "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.  Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind." (v. 5)  We have no right to judge God's people.  It is only He who knows the true intentions of someone's heart.  We all belong to the Lord.  He purchased us for a high price through the shedding of His precious blood, and He is the only one worthy to judge.  

Paul goes on to instruct us to make sure our own "ducks are in a row" because one day we will each stand before the judgement seat of God.  "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me and every tongue shall give praise to God.'  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." (vs. 11-12)  God makes it pretty clear that we ought to be judging our own actions, not the actions of others.  I don't know about you, but I have enough in my life that needs work and change to worry about the short comings of others.  Instead Paul says, "..let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way." (v. 13)  We are to be an encouragement to one another, each one supporting the other to grow in faith.  Instead of worrying about being right we should focus on helping, always teaching and sharing in love and humbleness.  Our lives are to be led not just for own our own freedoms and desires, but we are to also to, "...pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." (v. 19)  That is how we honor God. 

So the next time you find yourself criticizing or judging another, take a moment to stop and remember the words of Paul who tells us that the kingdom of God isn't about putting ourselves above others...especially to their detriment.  The kingdom of God is, "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (v. 17)  And remember the whispered words of my Grandmother, "Don't be a Donna June."