Have You Died Lately

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Accountability - For You And Your Neighbor

Every scripture posted on this blog is in KJV if you need a better understanding I encourage you to look at a different translation or comment below and I will respond to you.


1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

We may not think that are actions or behaviors are hurting us, we may think that we are simply enjoying life, “living”; having fun while we are young because once we are older with a family we won’t be able to. The moment that we gain wisdom regarding are actions is the moment in which we are accountable for the information we have learned. Don’t worry I am or have been guilty of the same thoughts, God convicts me daily. Although conviction may seem harsh it is more than needed. Even when we are punished we must rejoice in our punishment. God has told us that sin is not acceptable so why would we think we are excluded?

To live a life of sin and think we deserve a free pass means that we don’t believe Gods word is true. 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Recently God had told me to read the book of Habakkuk (if you have not read it you should), in this book Habakkuk had many questions for God because there was so much sin going on around him, so much wrong doing and Habakkuk didn’t understand how God put up with it. God told Habakkuk he was going to discipline the people of Judah and rather than growing angry that he was a part of Judah he rejoiced trusting everything that God was and all of his promises. Habakkak 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.  

We may think its okay to go out to the clubs and drink with our friends, use foul language and wear little clothes; and granted the bible does not tell us specifically we can't do these things, but we are told not to cause others to stumble. If someone see’s us partaking in these behaviors and they don’t know much about Gods word they begin to think it’s acceptable. We are to be a light, in light there is no darkness. This is a question I ask often; if it is not pleasing to God why do it? This is how I hold myself accountable, yes I still sin, of course I fall short but I desire to be like Christ and the more I dig into Gods word the more he convicts me and changes me renewing my mind. I love him so much there is absolutely nothing I want to do to upset him or cause others not to experience his love.

Now, I will discuss things we shouldn’t do but often do because of lack of knowledge.
We know not to drink and get drunk or that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom. Eph 5:18 and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. If we are to be filled with the Spirit why do we need to drink? True joy comes from The Lord, so drinking to enjoy yourself while you are out with friends isn’t really an excuse. Psalms 116:8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. God also promises us healing, so drinking to forget physical or emotional pain isn’t an excuse. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  
Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkennes, revellings and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in the past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are told to speak life. Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. I would say that cursing fits under all of the above, but if you disagree have you ever just sat and listened to someone curse? Cursing is not cute, it doesn’t sound pleasant and I’m certain that you may get your point across without curse words.

When we wear little clothing (too short, too tight or too low) what image are we sending off? Who and what are we attracting? 1 Timothy 2:9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control… We must remember that men are very visual, when they see something it can cause them to see or think something else. As a man strengthens his walk with God this clothing becomes unpleasant, it shows him that we don’t care to save the sight of our body for marriage. That’s not being modest. Don’t we want a good Christian man? Aside from that, going back to 1 John 2:10 if we are wearing clothing that reveals too much we may cause someone else to stumble, and as Christians we aren’t to do that. Matthew 5:28 but I say into you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her I'm his heart already.

When we Gossip we are not walking in love, we hurt people and lose the trust of others. I just encourage you not to do it!  Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.Proverbs 16:2 8 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

I had no intentions of writing a blog today, this started as a simple instagram post but as I was typing I felt lead to type more and now it has turned into an entire blog. This was a lesson for me because some things we do we don’t even know why we are doing them, or do knowing it’s wrong but aren’t sure why we should stop. When someone would ask me why I stopped doing some of the things I used to do or what was my outlook on certain things my response was always “If it’s not pleasing to God why do it” I would of course say a little more but that was my go to answer. As I learned more, more was revealed to me on how to better respond to these things. Once we gain knowledge we are responsible for that information. I pray that God continues to convict us, that we may grow to be more like Christ.


I love you so much, thank you for your continued support!

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