Accountability

Recently, a close friend and I decided to hold each other accountable. I never understood how accountability really worked. I thought it would mean pointing out the sin in each other's lives in a way that is very blunt and that can easily leave an impression of rudeness.

What I'm learning is that accountability is pointing out the sin in each others lives and it can be blunt. In fact, it's better to be blunt than passive. However, when two brothers or two sisters hold each other accountable, they are not rude. They are loving and gentle in their words and actions.

Check out 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. It's all about how we point out the sin in each others lives because that's part of growing and learning to be more like Jesus. It's not meant to be rude but to simple show that the person is not living in their identity of righteousness and is instead living in the identity of their sin.

It is a wonderful blessing to have a sister in Christ who tells me when I'm acting not of Christ but of myself. It is equally wonderful to be able to tell her when she isn't living righteously. Both sides of the relationship refine and mold you into the pure and righteous person you are in Christ.

Pray about who your accountability partner should be. Ask God to help you see how to hold your brother/sister accountable in a loving and gentle way. And finally, watch your partner and yourself grow to be more like Christ.