Tag: Accountable to God

We are ALL Accountable

Regardless of who or what we are in this world, we are ALL accountable to keep the commandments of the LORD. This morning as I continue to study the word “father” in God’s Word, as usual, God reveals things to me that I was not expecting. I am not sure of what I was to learn this morning when I sat down, and as usual, God has His plan for me that I have to be open to.

“14And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:” — Deuteronomy 27:14 (ESV)

The word in the above verse that struck me was the word “all”. You see when you read the two verses before it, half of the tribes of Israel were “blessed” from Mount Gerizim, and half were “cursed” from Mount Ebal, but “all” were addressed in the verses after.

Yes, when you read the verses after, you see the curses that were declared and I immediately went to those who were “cursed” from Mount Ebal. I took the natural thought in just reading the words that those “blessed” from Mount Gerizim were to be excluded from the curses. But I then look back at verse nine and ten to see that all of Israel is addressed, not just those from one mount.

“9Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, ‘Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.’” – Deuteronomy 27:9-10 (ESV)

It is not just one who is to keep the commandments of the LORD, but “ALL”. There may be a separation of where we are settled in this world, yet we are all under the God and in the same kingdom. Being in the same Kingdom of God, we are all subject to the same standards and laws. One group is not “allowed” to get away with sin while another is not.

I know that it seems as though there may be two tiers (or more) of justice as we look at consequences in this world. But I am not referring to this world specifically. I am referring to the Kingdom of God and in His Kingdom, we are all held to the same commandments and are all responsible to keeping them. God is not influenced by where we settle. He is not concerned with which mount we are from. We are “ALL” His children and are responsible to keep His commandments.

What are your thoughts on where you are settled? Are you one who thinks that because of where you are you are somehow better off in the eyes of God? What if you took the approach that we are all equal in the eyes of God and all held to the same commandment in His Kingdom, regardless of where we might be in this world?

The LORD is Justified

“How can the LORD do this to me? Doesn’t He love me and protect me?” I know that I have thought those words and likely have even said them aloud a time or two (or three, or four…). It is natural for me to think that way, especially when the essence of God is love. But, isn’t He my heavenly father, isn’t it the job of a father to hold us accountable to what is.

“4Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,”

— Psalm 51:4a (ESV)

Frankly, to Him didn’t I do what is being called out. I was the one who sinned and any sin is a sin against God. It may have been something simple that “did not hurt anyone”, but it did, God and my relationship with Him. Sin is a wedge between the LORD and me. Where there is sin, there tends to be little to no room for the LORD. Yes, the LORD is light and darkness cannot remain in the light. Yet, with my sin I am doing all there is to cover the light so that the darkness can be prevalent. And just who am I accountable to for the removal of the light, God.

When I have taken action to remove God by sinning, whether intentional or not (as we will sin without really thinking or knowing), I am accountable to that sin and to God. Not the world as one might think. As note above, it may not have hurt anyone in the world and the world has repeatedly said and will continue to say to do what you think is right and what feels good to you.

I have to be concerned with the sin in my life, whether I know about it or not. That sin, where it may not be hurting anyone in this world, it is hurting the LORD and due to that, He is justified in holding me accountable. He has the right to take action against me as I have taken action against Him.

“4so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.”

— Psalm 51:4b (ESV)

Just as any father has the right to hold accountable his children for doing things that are outside of what is deemed right, the LORD holds me accountable to do that which is right by Him. Sin is not right by God and therefor any sin is against Him and He should hold me accountable, whether I know of the sin or not. I have committed to Him and in that commitment I know what is right and should be held to that standard by the one that created the standard, the LORD.

What have you done that is sinning against God? Are you even thinking of the LORD as the one you are hurting with your actions? What if you were to accept that all sin is indeed hurting God and that He is justified to hold you accountable, how would you change your actions?