HomeWord - October 13, 2014

 Accountability and Support

This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. —James 5:16

Who has access to your soul? Is there someone in your life with whom you can share anything and everything? Who keeps you accountable to living out your Christian faith with integrity? For many people who are trying to live the Christian life totally on their own, it comes with difficulty. We all need support. We all need people around us who can ask us the probing questions and encourage us to keep on moving in the right direction in our faith.

Notice that Scripture is full of examples of people needing and belonging to a community of believers who could encourage, support and exhort each other. When Moses was exhausted and drained, he had people actually come alongside him and hold up his staff to help win a battle over the Amalikites. Jesus chose 12 disciples to basically pour into His life for three years. He taught them to support each other. After Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples in Jerusalem shared all things in common. They regularly ate, prayed and worshipped together (see Acts 2:42-47).

If you are not in some type of accountability relationship or support group, then I challenge you to join a group; or ask a friend to meet with you on a regular basis to share your faith journey with him or her. Here are a couple of questions to ask that can help you hold each other accountable and go deeper more quickly:

• Have I been in a compromising situation with someone of the opposite sex this week?

• Have I read or viewed anything that could be termed sexually explicit?

• Have I given priority to my family this week?

• Have I spent an adequate amount of time in Bible study and prayer this week?

• Have I had any financial dealings that have lacked integrity?

• Have I lied, cheated, or harmed anyone with gossip this week?

• Have I just lied to you on any of the above questions?

GOING DEEPER:

1. According to James 5:16, we are to be in such a close spiritual relationship with someone that we will confess our sins to each other. What makes this so difficult to do?

2. We all need an accountability and support relationship. If you do not have such a person or group, then talk with someone this week.

FURTHER READING:

Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25

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