accountability Archives

April 16, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Be Blameless

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Opening Verse

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)

Introduction

A deacon is called to be blameless, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But what happens when the words that come from a deacon’s mouth are filled with profanity? Does it matter? Scripture makes it clear: our words reveal our heart.

Devotional Story

A man once served faithfully in his church as a deacon. He helped the needy, gave wise advice, and was respected. But outside the church walls, something didn’t add up. When upset, he let loose words that sounded more like the world than the Word. Some shrugged it off. “We all slip,” they said.

But one Sunday, a young believer who looked up to him overheard one of these outbursts during a parking lot disagreement. The young man’s face changed. He didn’t argue. He just walked away and never returned.

The deacon noticed his absence weeks later. He called, visited, and apologized. But the damage was done. “If that’s what serving God looks like,” the young man said, “then I’m confused.”

That moment broke the deacon. He wept. Not because of the shame, but because his mouth had become a stumbling block. He opened his Bible and read:

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Matthew 12:36 (KJV)

From then on, his speech changed. Not from fear of man, but fear of God.

What This Means

Deacons, pastors, and all believers are called to live above reproach. If the tongue is not tamed, the testimony is tainted. Words are not harmless—they’re either salt or poison. Jesus said what comes out of the mouth flows from the heart. If a deacon is speaking filth, it’s not just a slip of the tongue. It’s a warning sign from the soul.

Think About This

Do your words build others up or tear them down?
Are you more careful about your words in church than outside of it?
Would someone be drawn to Christ by how you speak?

Prayer

Lord, help me to watch my mouth. Let no corrupt word come out of it, but only what is holy, loving, and true. Cleanse my heart, that my speech would reflect Your Spirit. If I’ve been careless or caused others to stumble, forgive me and help me make it right. Let my life and lips honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
James 3:10 (KJV)

April 8, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Spiritual Bank Accounts

Wordcast

Opening Verse

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

Introduction

Relationships are like spiritual bank accounts: you can’t keep withdrawing without making deposits. Encouragement, prayer, and truth are the deposits we all need. If you surround yourself with people who only take and never pour into you, your strength will run dry.

Devotional Story

Marcus was always the strong one. People called him when they were down, and he never turned them away. He’d pray with them, give advice, even pull out his wallet when they were in need. He kept giving, pouring out again and again.

But one day, Marcus broke.

He sat in his car, exhausted and frustrated. “Lord, why do I feel empty when I’m doing so much for others?” In that moment, he felt the Holy Spirit whisper: “You’ve been making withdrawals with no deposits. Even a bank account will run dry.”

That moment hit him hard. Marcus realized he had no one praying for him. No one checking on him. No one speaking life into his soul. He had surrounded himself with people who needed him—but not people who could help him stand.

So he made a change. He asked God to send him brothers who could walk with him, not just lean on him. And God did.

Now, Marcus still gives—but he also receives. He’s no longer running on empty.

What This Means

You need people who speak life into you. Who check on your soul. Who make spiritual deposits when life is draining you. That’s not weakness—that’s wisdom.

God calls us to support one another, not carry the burden alone.

Think About This

Who pours into your spiritual life?
Are your relationships balanced—or are you spiritually overdrawn?
Have you asked God to place true encouragers in your corner?

Prayer

Lord, help me to build relationships that are rooted in You. Show me who You’ve called to walk beside me, and give me wisdom to step away from what drains me. Teach me to give, but also to receive. Keep my spirit full, and surround me with those who carry truth, prayer, and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
— Hebrews 10:24 (KJV)

April 4, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

It’s Not the Act, It’s the Intent

Opening Verse

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”
— Proverbs 21:2 (KJV)

Introduction

Many people think that if their actions look good, that’s enough. But God doesn’t just look at what we do—He looks deeper. He sees why we do it. It’s not just the act that matters to God; it’s the heart behind it.

Devotional Story

There was a young woman who gave to the poor every month. She made sure to post about it online, tagging her church and using popular Scriptures as captions. Everyone thought she was generous, kind, and spiritually mature. But behind closed doors, her heart was far from God. She often mocked the very people she helped, seeing them as beneath her.

Across town, there was a man who quietly slipped envelopes of cash into struggling families’ mailboxes. He told no one. No hashtags. No photos. He even skipped church sometimes out of shame for his past. But every act of kindness came from a heart broken by his own sin and desperate to honor Christ in secret.

Which one did God approve of?

Jesus answered that very question in Matthew 6:1:

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”

What This Means

God doesn’t just want our hands—He wants our hearts. You can do the right thing for the wrong reason and miss the mark completely. You can preach, give, or serve, but if it’s done for attention, praise, or guilt, it doesn’t please Him. But even the smallest act, done with a heart that loves Jesus, is seen and rewarded by God.

This is urgent—because many will one day say, “Lord, didn’t we do all these things in Your name?” and Jesus will reply, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). Why? Because their intent was never truly for Him.

Think About This

Are your actions for Christ or for credit?
If no one saw what you did, would you still do it?
What does God see when He looks past your deeds and into your heart?

Prayer

Lord, search my heart and show me the truth. Cleanse me from false motives. Let everything I do be for Your glory and not my own. Teach me to live with eternity in mind, not applause. I want to please You, not people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” — Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV)

March 29, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Judgment and Mercy

Opening Verse

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.”
Ezekiel 5:5, KJV

Introduction

God’s Word in Ezekiel 5 is not soft. It is sharp. It is a warning. God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel using a dramatic sign—cutting and dividing hair—to show what’s about to happen to His people. Judgment is coming. Not because God delights in punishment, but because His people have rebelled beyond the nations around them. This chapter is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks God is silent about sin.

Devotional Story

A young man was raised in church. He knew the truth. But as he grew older, he began to see God’s commands as optional. He still prayed occasionally, still said “God bless you,” but his heart was far from God. He compromised with the world—just a little at first. A little lie. A little lust. A little pride.

Over time, the compromise grew. He mocked warnings from believers. He stopped reading the Word. He started justifying sin. He was convinced that God wouldn’t judge him. After all, hadn’t he once believed?

But one night, after a long season of sin, he had a vivid dream. In it, a city burned. The people screamed. The sky turned black. In the center of the chaos was a mirror, and in that mirror was his own face. He woke up trembling, realizing the Lord had given him a glimpse of what happens when mercy is rejected.

The next morning, he opened his Bible, and it fell to Ezekiel 5.

What This Means

Ezekiel 5 reminds us that God holds His people accountable. Jerusalem had been given every blessing—God’s temple, His law, His prophets. But they rebelled worse than the nations around them. So God said, “I will execute judgments in the midst of thee… and will do in thee that which I have not done” (v. 9).

This wasn’t just about Jerusalem—it’s about anyone who receives the truth and then turns from it. To know God’s will and still rebel is dangerous. Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who reject Him after knowing Him.

Yet even in judgment, God sends a warning. He speaks before He strikes. Ezekiel was the trumpet. The question is: will we listen?

Think About This

Have you been ignoring the voice of God? Are you living like you’ll never stand before Him?

Ezekiel 5 is not meant to make you afraid of God—it’s meant to bring you back to Him. The God who warns is the God who forgives, if we repent. The hair in the fire was a picture of destruction, but a small portion was kept—God always preserves a remnant.

Will you be part of it?

Prayer

Father, forgive me for treating Your Word lightly. I have seen how You judge rebellion, and I do not want to be found among the unfaithful. Cleanse me. Restore my fear of You. Help me turn from anything that dishonors Your Name. I want to be part of the remnant that remains faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.”
Ezekiel 6:8, KJV

February 1, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

God’s Authority and Our Responsibility

Opening Verse

“For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” – Romans 13:4 (KJV)

Introduction

God has established order in this world, including the authorities that govern us. While no human system is perfect, God’s Word makes it clear that rulers serve a purpose—to reward good and punish evil. Understanding this truth helps us live in obedience, knowing that respecting authority is also part of honoring God.

Devotional Story

In a small town, a man named Paul worked as a traffic officer. He loved his job, not because of the authority it gave him, but because he saw it as a way to keep people safe. One day, a reckless driver sped through a school zone, nearly hitting a child. Paul quickly intervened, pulling the driver over.

The man was furious. “Why are you stopping me? I was only going a little over the limit!” he shouted.

Paul calmly responded, “Sir, the speed limit here is for a reason. A child almost lost their life because of your decision. I don’t enforce these laws for myself—I do it to protect people like that child.”

The driver, still upset, snatched the ticket and drove off. But later that evening, he reflected on what Paul had said. He realized that laws weren’t just about punishment; they were about protection.

Paul understood something deeper—his role wasn’t just a job; it was a calling. Whether people appreciated it or not, he was an agent of order, carrying out a responsibility that aligned with God’s design for authority.

What This Means

Romans 13:4 reminds us that governing authorities are appointed by God to maintain justice. While human leaders can be flawed, the principle remains—order is necessary, and those who do good should have no reason to fear. But those who rebel against authority, especially in ways that bring harm, will face consequences.

As believers, we must respect the structures God has put in place while also praying for those in leadership, that they would govern with wisdom and righteousness.

Think About This

How do you view authority? Do you see it as an obstacle or as part of God’s order?
Are there areas in your life where you struggle to submit to leadership?
Do you pray for those in authority, even when you disagree with them?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the order You have established in this world. Help me to respect authority as an act of obedience to You. Give wisdom to those in leadership, that they may govern with righteousness and justice. Help me to be a person of integrity, submitting where I should and standing for truth when needed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” – 1 Peter 2:13-14 (KJV)

May 2, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Certainty of God’s Judgement

Opening Verse

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:14

Introduction

In a world that often seems chaotic and out of control, it’s important to remember that God’s judgement is a fixed point of certainty. This divine assessment is not just a future event but an ongoing reality that shapes our lives and our world.

Devotional Story

Imagine a small town where everyone knows each other’s business. One day, a new family moves into town, bringing with them a past that they hope to keep hidden. However, as time passes, their secrets start to surface, causing stir among the townspeople. This scenario mirrors how God’s judgement works. Nothing can be hidden from God; every action and thought are known to Him, and He judges them according to His perfect law.

What This Means

God’s judgement being already determined means that His laws and the consequences for breaking them are established and unchanging. Unlike human laws which can be ambiguous and subject to change, God’s standards are perfect, just, and eternal. They apply to every person and situation without exception or prejudice.

Think About This

How does the certainty of God’s judgement influence your daily decisions? Knowing that God sees all and judges all, are there areas in your life where you need to make changes? This isn’t about fear, but about living a life that is aligned with God’s will and His holy standards.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unchanging standards and the certainty of Your judgement. Help me to live each day with the awareness of Your presence and Your laws. Guide me to walk in Your ways, and give me the courage to make right choices, knowing that You see all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” – Revelation 20:12

April 20, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Stop Blaming Satan for Sins You Are Committing

Opening Verse

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9

Introduction

Often, it’s easy to point fingers at external forces when we falter or sin, attributing our wrongdoings to Satan’s temptations. While it’s true that Satan can tempt us, it’s crucial to recognize that many of our choices stem from our own desires and inclinations.

Devotional Story

Imagine a man named Tom who often finds himself speaking harshly to his family. Whenever he reflects on his behavior, Tom blames Satan for putting anger in his heart. One day, after a particularly heated argument, his daughter tearfully asks him why he can’t speak kindly. This moment of clarity makes Tom realize that his anger comes from within himself, not from an external source. He understands that he has been using Satan as a scapegoat to avoid facing his own shortcomings.

What This Means

It’s important to acknowledge that we have a natural tendency to sin due to our human nature. Blaming Satan for our actions can be an easy way out, allowing us to avoid accountability for our sins. True spiritual growth begins when we accept responsibility for our deeds and seek God’s guidance to overcome our weaknesses.

Think About This

How often do you find yourself blaming external circumstances or others for your actions? Consider instances where you might have avoided taking responsibility for your sins. Reflect on how acknowledging your own role in these situations could lead to personal and spiritual growth.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please give me the courage to face myself honestly. Help me to recognize the sins that I commit and the choices I make that lead me away from You. Grant me the strength to accept responsibility for my actions and to seek Your forgiveness and guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

October 19, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

Keeping the Flame

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
– Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

Introduction

Imagine the moment you first discover God—a spark of faith ignites within you. It’s like finding a treasure in a hidden chest. Your heart is filled with passion, and you can’t help but share the good news with everyone you meet. This initial burst of enthusiasm is a beautiful and powerful thing, much like the birth of a small flame.

Devotional

As time goes on, it’s not uncommon for that flame to flicker and seem to fade. Life’s challenges, distractions, and routine can sometimes dampen the fervor we once had. This experience is not unique; it’s like a fire that starts to lose its intensity.

But here’s where a crucial aspect of Christian faith comes into play—the importance of mutual accountability and encouragement. In the Bible, in Proverbs 27:17 (KJV), it says,

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

For new believers, the early passion is often like a blazing fire. Their excitement is infectious, and they hunger for knowledge and connection with God. They are the spark that ignites others, and they inspire us with their zeal.

However, as time passes, some may notice that the veteran believers, who have been on this journey for a while, don’t always seem to have the same level of enthusiasm. It’s not that their faith has diminished, but it might appear that way from the outside.

This is where we should remember the principle of iron sharpening iron. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that we are all on this journey together. New believers can learn from the wisdom and experience of those who have walked this path for years. Likewise, veteran believers can be rekindled by the fresh passion of newcomers.

As Christians, we should hold each other accountable and sharpen one another in faith. We are not meant to journey alone; we are a community. By being examples to one another and keeping each other on fire for God, we can ensure that our faith doesn’t just flicker but burns brightly, like an inferno that lights up the world.

Conclusion

Let us embrace the spark of new faith with joy, knowing that it’s the beginning of a beautiful journey. And let us remember that, as a community of believers, we can fan the flames of faith in one another, keeping the fire burning strong for God’s glory.

Faith Notes:

In our Christian journey, fellowship and accountability are like the wind beneath our wings. When we gather together, we ignite the flames of faith in one another, stirring up love and inspiring good works. Just as iron sharpens iron, our interactions help us grow stronger in our faith.

Remember, we’re not meant to go it alone. We are a community, a family of believers, and by encouraging and exhorting one another, we can face the challenges of life with faith and resilience. So, let’s hold each other accountable and continue to meet together, especially as we see the day of Christ’s return drawing near. In this fellowship, we find strength, unity, and a shared passion for God that keeps our faith burning brightly.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)