Paul wrote to the church at Rome of interpersonal relationships and our tendency to judge others. In this, he exhorted that we first look at ourselves; to consider our own actions, thoughts, and intentions. Being called to be holy, to live in a manner that pleases the Lord, it is good to spend time in personal examination, knowing that someday we will be held accountable. Paul wrote: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14.12).
It is sobering to think about. We will be required to “give an account” for ourselves, for every part, every aspect of ourselves before the Lord. Consider. We will give an account to the Lord of our time, our thoughts, our interactions, our anger, our speech, our home, our family, our money, our stuff and things, our desires, our goals, our judgments, our service, our faithfulness, our boldness, our timidity, our attitudes, our covetousness, our contentment, our praises, our all… and the list continues. This understanding should cause us to stop and think. As the children of God, we have been called to be faithful stewards of all we have; we are to recognize that all we have has been given to us as a gift from our Lord – for His purpose. Recognizing we will “give an account,” should remind us of at least three things. One, we should be now motivated to seek to live in a manner that is ever pleasing to our Lord, knowing He will provide for us “everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1.3-4). Two, we should also be able to rest in the truth of God’s gracious mercy, His willing forgiveness of all our sin. He desires that we repent of sin; He enables us to resist all forms of temptation and cling to Him in faith and obedience. Three, we should be humbled in giving thanks to our Lord, knowing that through the blood of Christ we have been fully cleansed and are seen in the righteousness of Christ before the Father, not because of what we have done, but because of His great love for us.
Cleansed and enabled in Christ – we have much to be thankful for –
May you each enjoy, rest in, and be motivated by the blessings of Christ in this coming year –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 