“Want to play hide and seek, Thomas?” asked Amelia as she propped her forehead on her hands against the stone column on the front porch. “Yes,” he answered, striding over to take her exact posture on the opposite side of the same column as she began to count. The moms and I looked at each other and grinned. One day they’ll get it and we’ll remind them of their early attempts, but for now, they’ll entertain one another with a toddler’s version of peekaboo around a stone column amid peels of laughter.
We do much the same thing when we imagine our own thoughts or actions are ever invisible. Even if no one else in the world sees or hears, God does. Accountability is knowing I am answerable to Someone and taking responsibility for myself. The integrity of any organization is dependent on the sum of its parts. You can begin with anything and trace backwards to see my point.
If I buy a new automobile, I believe that it will be reliable transportation for me and my family, that it will run effectively and efficiently for a minimum number of miles, provided I perform the proper maintenance. I am assuming that those involved in the assembly process and the manufacturers of each individual part provided quality parts and service and that they were also provided with quality materials. If there is a breakdown at any point along the way, a recall may be issued and I lose faith in the integrity of my new vehicle.
For instance, when my daughter saved and paid half down on her first vehicle purchase, she made her payment affordable on her starting teacher salary. Her confidence was badly shaken when within the first year, a repair was required when it was discovered that a particular welded joint was severing the electrical wiring deep within the body of the vehicle she had chosen. It was an extensive repair requiring her to drive a rental vehicle for several weeks. Only the year model she drove was affected. She was understandably frustrated.
We tend to see ourselves as independent, above reproach, not answerable to anyone, but the truth is, our words and actions have a ripple effect and left unchecked, well, look around you. We see the results of a lack of accountability every day. It’s as if our modern mantra has become, in the words of Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is mingled into one spirit with him.
Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you?
You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary.
You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God!”
1 Corinthians 6:17, 19-20 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1co.6.19.TPT
“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.12.27.NLT
Jesus taught generosity, and though He owned little during His earthly sojourn, He gave extravagantly to those who could never repay Him. When the woman who had a bleeding disorder for twelve years touched then hem of his robe, Jesus felt the power go out from Him. Healing is His to give, as is life and mercy and salvation. He gave His life as a ransom for many, including those who would beat Him and spit in His face, mock Him, reject Him, and ultimately crucify Him. He came to do the will of the Father and it was accomplished on the cross. God gave the most extravagant gift ever given and still some snub their noses at Him. Still some imagine their very existence apart from Him. Still we hide, away from the Light, because our deeds are evil. (John 3:19)
“For the word of God is alive and powerful.
It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.
Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.12-13.NLT
“Don’t play hide and seek from the Lord who loves you ‘cause you can’t hide from God.
God is everywhere all the time.
He loves you.” (Ernie and Debby Kerner Rettino)
“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Numbers 23:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/num.23.19.NLT
“Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him.
By this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments.
For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts.
And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey]. For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].
Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world?
It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:1-5 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1jn.5.5.AMP
“And his fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses.
It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs, and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority, and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God.
The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our self-life.
We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else.
But God still loved us with such great love.
He is so rich in compassion and mercy.
Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!
He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!
Throughout the coming ages we will be the visible display of the infinite riches of his grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Jesus Christ.
For by grace you have been saved by faith.
Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ!
So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.
We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One.
Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!”
Ephesians 2:1-10 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/eph.2.6-10.TPT
Those who by faith believed Jesus walked with Him. They followed Him into wildernesses and out onto waves. They didn’t always understand Him but they trusted Him, and as Peter said, we are more blessed than they because our faith is without sight. We believe through their message. (John 17:20)
“You love him even though you have never seen him.
Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.8-9.NLT
“Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer.
Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.
Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.
Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
John 12:35-36 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.12.35-36.NLT
“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:9-12 NLT
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