“⁴With respect to this they are surprised when you do no join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; ⁵but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” – 1 Peter 4:4-5 (ESV)

We have a choice to take part or to avoid. Our choice determines our commitment to the Grace of God.

“¹Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ²so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” – 1 Peter 4:1-2 (ESV)

When we have committed to Christ, we discard of sin as a way of life. We will still sin, as we are sinners. But, we will no longer consciously sin and repent of those sins we know of and those we do not.

We have the choice to be different from those around us. We have a choice to be devoted to Christ. We have a choice to be accountable for our sin.

When we go through this world, are you aware of your being different? Are you choosing to be devoted to Christ? Are you choosing to be accountable for your sin?

“¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Who will give an account, all as noted in verse 17 above. Even the leaders we submit to.

When we are going through this life, it is natural if you seek a position of leadership. I believe that at some point all of us want some sort of control and be the “go to person” in what we are doing.

I also believe that we lose sight of the accountability we have once we have the authority we seek. We tend to want the “power” and someone else is responsible for that “power”.

With “power” comes responsibility, and that responsibility is greater than I believe most of us are prepared. The writer of Hebrews states clearly in verse 17 that we are to submit to leaders, however, those leaders have a responsibility to “watch over your souls”. They should do so “with joy” so as to benefit those under them.

I have had many people over me in business and I say with confidence that only a small number of them have truly been leaders that watched over my soul. Those leaders were the ones that would bat for you around every turn. They would hold you accountable for your actions and press to assist your growth and learning to the point of holding themselves accountable as they would be giving an account. These are the leaders we should seek to be if indeed we seek to be leaders.

We are all to give an account, to God for our actions as well as the actions of those in our charge.

What is it that you seek? Are you one that would like to be in a position of leadership, either formally or informally? Are you prepared to be accountable for those in your charge, whether just you, or others as well?

We have not been displaying ourselves in the image of Christ and for that, he is coming again.

“⁵Put to death therefor what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.” – Colossians 3:5-7 (ESV)

We were once a part of all those things before we accepted Christ and it is a struggle each day to stay out of them. The only way out of them completely is with the coming of Jesus again. When He comes again we will be completely rescued from the temptations of this world like “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness”.

It is us that fall into these items. When we are doing our own things and not leaning of God for the help He provides. When we are going it alone, we find ourselves seeking acceptance in the most insincere places. We would do better to sit down with God’s Word and seek guidance there. Look to the one place where things are pure for our direction.

We are sinners and on account of us, Jesus is coming again.

Where do you place the responsibility of your actions? Are you looking to self for your indiscretions? Are you aware and own the idea that this is all on account of you?

“¹²So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” – Romans 14:12 (ESV)

We are each responsible for ourselves and we are not in the business of judgment.

“²One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ³Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let no the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.” – Romans 14:2-3 (ESV)

Why is it that everyone is “better” than everyone else in this world? Why are we always putting others down for what they believe?

When we are all in accordance with one concept, God, it really makes little difference what else we believe in. None of us is better in the eyes of God. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and all heirs to our inheritance in heaven.

Ours is not to judge, but to accept and love. We are to “give an account” of ourselves to God.

When you look at others, what do you see? Do you find yourself in the business of judgment as opposed to acceptance and love? Are you avoiding the passing of judgment?

When we are going through this life, we are to be taking actions that glorify God, but to what extent?

“²⁴But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24 (ESV)

Paul did not count his “life of any value” if he did not work to complete the actions given to him by God. Doing God’s work was more important than living on this earth to him.

“²²And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.” – Acts 20:22-23 (ESV)

We are always in a position to do the right thing, even when we know the consequences are great. It is our choice to do on account of God as opposed to on account of me. Paul did not shy away from doing right by God and following His direction at every turn, even at the expense of “imprisonment and afflictions”.

We have a choice to make when it comes to living in this life, either for God, or against Him. We are to take action on account of God and not on account we look good or can save face by doing so.

When you are faced with a choice, what are we looking at to determine the right actions? What is the motivation for the choices we make? What actions are we taking on account of God?

When we are what we are, we should be stretching ourselves to receive.

“³And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. ⁴So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was about to pass that way.” – Luke 19:3-4 (ESV)

I know that a good number of us have heard the story of Zacchaeus. We likely focus on the thoughts of him being small in stature and received salvation for his repentance. Although I am looking at another part this morning.

You see, Zacchaeus was small in stature, but he did not let that deter him from getting a look at Jesus. He was determined and because of it, he did what he had to do, climb a tree.

Now I want to look a little closer at this. Zacchaeus was rich, tax collector and had the ability to pretty well get what he wanted. He could have “bought” a seat close to the road, but in this case he did not use his fame or fortune, he used his mind and body, and climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. He certainly did what it took.

Sometimes, we are in positions where we have to be determined to achieve. Like Zacchaeus, we may have to use our mind and body to get there. When the desire is extensive enough, we will do more to get there.

I know that there will be those that begin to think of justification for their actions. “I robbed the bank to get the money I “needed” to get what I want.” “I shot that person, because they had the shoes I truly desired.” Well to that I say, NO. That is not the spirit of what I am referring to any means. We are still accountable for the actions we take and are responsible to take actions that are of “wholesome” account.

Committing to the way of Christ is the right way. Seeking and desiring Him anyway possible is the right way to seek. Sometimes we may have to really work for it to achieve that which we desire.

When you are seeking, how are you going about it? What is getting in your way that you will have to overcome? Will you do what it takes on account of that which is in your way?

I find it interesting that in our society we consider information the be all and end all in (“I got it from the internet, therefor it must be true”). The next thing you know, we are spreading the information as if we are the experts on the subject.

“¹Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, ²just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, ³it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴that you may have certainty concerning the thing you have been taught.” – Luke 1:1-4 (ESV)

Luke was a physician, and as such, was educated and understood the need to be accurate and thorough. He states his case for the information’s accuracy and thoroughness here in opening of his letter to Theophilus. Look closely at Luke’s words, “eyewitnesses and ministers of the word”, “having followed all things closely for some time past”, and “orderly account”.

Being accurate is not just reporting what you see, but also digging to find more context to what you see. The only way to find the context is to investigate, witness, and speak to others that have seen or took part in what it was you saw or were brought aware. There is also the element of time, where you have compiled information over a period of time as opposed to reading today and reporting an hour later. And finally there must be some order to what and how you present the information, just spouting it off in a crowd is not allowing others to digest and investigate thoroughly your claims.

We are to always be accurate and thorough in our accounts. Whether in the world with those items we experience every day, or be it within our walk with Christ and study of His Word. I embarked on this writing journey to learn more about my Kingdom Purpose and after over three years, I am still seeking. I am still working on the accuracy through my constant thorough study.

When you are presented information, what is your process for understanding? Are you thorough in your search for accuracy, or are you just spouting what you heard? What care do you have for the accuracy and thoroughness of your account?

The fullness of our acceptance is where real fruit will be born. We can hear, listen, or understand.

“²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cars of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and I proves unfruitful. ²³As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundred fold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” – Matthew 13:20-23 (ESV)

This a pretty long passage and it really speaks to our approach. In my thoughts, the “thorny ground” is just hearing, the “rocky ground” is listening, and the “good ground” is understanding. In our walk with Christ we are able to serve and grow best when we are able to understand.

When we are in a position of hearing, that which we come in contact only touches the surface and is quickly snuffed out by forces of the world and other directions we are being pulled. When we listen, there is quickly the establishment of some growth, but as soon as the going gets tough, we fall back into the same worldly rut we were in before.

Now, when we understand, we are able to plant firmly in our knowledge and continue to prosper and grow, eventually producing seeds that have the opportunity to be heard, listened to, or understood themselves. This is the essence of accountability to knowledge and understanding.

God has provided us with Savior in Jesus and it is up to us to understand what that means. We can hear the Word, or listen to the Word, or take action to understand the Word. It is our approach that allows us to generate an account for what is provided.

As you go through life, are you hearing, listening, or understanding? Are you able to take root in the Word? Are you working to generate an account for what God has provided?

“³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders who were accusing Him of being under the power of Satan. Isn’t is something when those in “power” see someone else in the light, they are quick to turn it around and be accusatory?

Of course Jesus is right in that we will “give account” and that by “your words you will be justified…condemned”. If we are on the side of God, they we are justified in the actions that we are taking, but on the side of man, we are condemned.

We are accountable to God. I will say that again, we are accountable to God. Let that sink in a bit. Trevor Flisowski, you are accountable to God. Whatever man says against you, Trevor Flisowski, you are accountable to God.

I know that it is hard out there and I have been writing about the persecution that takes place. I know that it is not me, but they that are in the wrong (as long as I am on the side of God). I cannot worry myself with what others think, say, or do. I am accountable to God and only God for the things that I think, say, and do.

What about you, are you looking to others for validation? Are you “worried” about what others think and say? Are you aware that you are accountable for you?

This morning I was directed to “The Beatitudes”. Nothing new here with regard to being blessed. I did however come across a couple of significant reminders.

“¹Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.” – Matthew 5:1 (ESV)

You see here, Jesus sat down and spoke first to His disciples. He addressed His devoted followers first. He grabbed His team and made sure that they knew He appreciated them and that they were important to Him. Jesus then shared what we know as the rest of “The Beatitudes” ending with the following verses.

“¹¹Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)

What I am reminded here is that Jesus wants us as His disciples to know that they/we are important to Him. So much so to be addressed first and take precedent over those that are just gathering to be amazed.

As disciples of Christ, we are blessed on account of just that, following Christ. We are blessed as we do the work of Christ. We are blessed thanks to Christ.

Are you being persecuted and experiencing “all kinds of evil against you”? Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you aware of the blessings you receive on account of Jesus?