A Faith That Accounts

Daily Reading: Romans 14

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14.12)

Devotional Thought:  I don't like to be judged, do you?  Especially when the person making the judgment doesn't have all the facts.  The fact of the matter is, however, that "each of us will give an account... to God."  That's fair because God does indeed have all the facts. 

As we think about judgment, we need to consider the three “parties” involved:

1)     God.  We will give our accounts to God.  God is the ultimate judge.  Nothing is hidden from God.  And, he knows the motives of our hearts.  That thought should bring us comfort, but also may cause us concern!

2)     You.  I won’t give an account for you.  That is your job.  There is a lot of victim mentality in our world today.  That won’t fly with God.  We may not be responsible for what other people do to us, but we are responsible for how we respond to what other people do.

3)     Me.  I will give an account for me.  That is my job.  And, I will give an account of how my actions impacted your life.  Did I encourage or discourage your faith?  Did I help you or send you away "hungry"?  Did I lead you into sin or into holiness?  Did I pray with and for you, or did I talk about you behind your back?

Hebrews 9.27 says that we are all destined to die, and that after that we will face judgment.  Then, in the book of Revelation we are reminded that there are books being kept in heaven, and that God himself will judge everyone according to what they have done (Revelation 20.12).  Go out and live so that you make a positive impact on others!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, that you do not "deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."  Instead, you offer forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  I receive this forgiveness, O Lord, and commit to forgive others as you have forgiven me.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 27.1-6

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yetI will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.