~*~ It all starts in Genesis... "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' "
God has not made us to remain alone....we need one another, no matter we might say we don't... You can fool me, and even yourself by saying you don't need another person's help, encouragement, understanding, caring, love..But you cannot fool Him...He knows how you really feel about it...
I am very grateful for my teens youth group... Here is what we talked about one day.. (Yes, I have saved the notes.. :P )
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12 "Two are better off than one...If one of them falls down, the other can reach out and help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad, because there is no one to help him... Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break."
Serve one another ~ Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
Accept one another ~ Romans 15:7 "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Forgive one another ~ Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Encourage one another ~ Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
Great one another ~ Romans 16:16 "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings."
Bear one another's burdens ~ Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Be devoted to one another ~ Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Honor one another ~ Romans 12 :10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Teach one another ~ Romans 15:14 "I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another."
Submit to one another ~ Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Some positive things that come from accountability:
"Let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds" ~ Hebrews 10:24 --- Helps us be thinking of each other... :)
- "People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron." ~ Proverbs 27:17 --- It says it clear enough...we all know that "two heads are better than one" and we can learn a lot more from one another..
- "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." ~ Hebrews 3:13 --- We can alert! each other when we're about to fall to sin...
- "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently....Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:1-2 --- And even if we do sin, we can be there for each other and help them out... restore them to continue their walk with the Lord..
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Now you know what accountability of one another is and how important it is for us all. I suggest you choose at least one person to keep you accountable for whatever you need to. It could be for any reason actually like: for encouraging you to keep in touch with the Lord and get closer to Him, or for trying to do some work you need to finish in time because something else is distracting you, for sharing thoughts and feelings, for lifting you up in prayer, etc. (For e.i.: I personally have chosen one person to keep me accountable about the time I spent online on chats and the things I should and need to get done.)
Also look around you everyday. I am sure that there is at least one person almost every day that really need you to keep them accountable for something... They need your greeting, your smile, your encouragement, your service, your forgiveness, your acceptance, your teaching, your help, your friendship... What does it cost you to pay a little more attention to others needs? Wouldn't you also like them to pay you attention and care about you?
Just make it a habit, and become a true Jesus follower. By showing some Christ-like accountability to one another we also fulfill the second great commandment:
"Love your neighbor as you love yourself" ~ Matthew 22:39 ~
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And now I'm off to think some more about this...and see who needs my accountability and what areas I need people to keep me accountable for. I encourage you do the same too...Spend some time in prayer...and listen carefully what God is trying to tell you... He will bring the people you need in your life...and He WILL use them and you for His glory! Blessings my friends! Peace!
In Christ,
~ El ♥
