Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
One of God’s great attributes is that He does not hold us accountable for what others do, but for what we do. It does not matter what my parents or what my pastor did, it only matters what I have done when I stand before God. We can blame our personal problems on what everyone else has done, but we are responsible for our own actions. If the whole world compromises, God does not hold me accountable for what the world does, but for what I do.
However, one great truth is missed in this verse that will help everyone to give a better account of themselves to God. If you are going to give a good account of yourself to God, it is best to give an account to yourself first. Let me explain. If I hold myself accountable to myself, then I will have a better chance of being able to give a good account to God. If I know how I am doing, I am able to give a better account of myself to God.
Herein is the great problem: most believers have no idea how they are doing in their walk with God. They rely on their memory and feelings to dictate how they feel they are doing in walking with God, but they have no idea if their feelings are right. In fact, your feelings about how your spiritual walk is is often a bad way to give an account. Let me explain. I can feel my finances are doing well, but if I have no record to look at to see how they are doing, my feelings may lead me wrong. I may be doing well financially, but I may also not be doing well financially; only records will tell me how well my finances are doing.
The greatest way to give an account to yourself so you can give a good account to God is to keep records of your walk with God. I know this may seem mechanical and unspiritual to some, but it is more spiritual than determining my walk with God based on a whim. Records have a way of convicting you when you see how bad you are doing, and they have a way of encouraging you when you are doing better than what you feel you are doing. If you keep records of what you are doing for God, you will know if you are lacking in an area or if you are doing well in that certain area.
I believe it is wise to keep records of your daily reading of God’s Word. Most people have no idea how many days they have missed reading God’s Word. One day turns into several days, but you will not know how many days you have missed reading God’s Word if you don't have a record of it.
Likewise, you ought to keep records of your soul winning. Many people have no idea when they last led someone to Christ because they don't keep records of their soul winning. Keeping records of your soul winning will help you to become a more consistent soul winner.
Furthermore, you ought to keep records of how you are doing with overcoming a sin. You may actually be doing well, but you will not know if you don't have any records. Keeping records of your battle to overcome a sin helps to challenge you to do a better job or to continue to be consistent until you overcome it.
Those who keep records will find it easier to give an account of themselves. If you first give an account of yourself to yourself by keeping records, you will have a better chance of giving a good account to God. Keeping records of your spiritual walk will help you to have a victorious walk.
Comments