We’re excited to announce that we’ll be featuring Zach in our monthly blog posts going forward. To keep things interesting, we’ll alternate between sharing Zach’s letters and sermons and Gretchen’s letters and writings. Enjoy!

Accountability

Matthew 12: 36 and 37 NKJ ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What Kind of words come from your mouth? You can’t solve your heart problems, just by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives, then your speech wil be cleaned at its source.

James 1:13-15NKJ ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

It is easy to blame others and make excuses for evil thoughts and wrong actions. Excuses might include:

1. It is the other person’s fault

2. I could not help it.

3. Everybody’s doing it

4. It was just a mistake

5. Nobody’s perfect

6. The devil made me do it

7. I was pressured into it

8.  I didn’t know it was wrong

9. God is tempting me

A person who is trying to make excuses is trying to shift the blame from himself or herself to something or someone else. A Christian, on the other hand, should accept responsibility for his or her wrongs, confesses them, and asks God for forgiveness.  

Points to Ponder

1. Responsibility for Our Words: Jesus’ teaching in Matthew highlights the significance of our words as a reflection of our heart’s condition. Every word spoken is not just ephemeral; it carries weight and will be accounted for in the day of judgment. This serves as a reminder that our speech can either justify or condemn us, urging us to be mindful and intentional with our words.
2. The Root of Our Words and Actions: Merely attempting to control or “clean up” our speech without addressing the underlying attitudes and motives is insufficient. True transformation in our speech comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts, which in turn cleanses the source of our words.
3. Personal Accountability Over Blame: In discussing James 1:13-15, it addresses the human tendency to deflect blame and make excuses for sinful thoughts and actions. It challenges common excuses and emphasizes that blaming others, claiming ignorance, or denying responsibility does not absolve one of accountability before God.
4. The Importance of Confession and Repentance: We should have humility and responsibility, where individuals acknowledge their wrongdoings, confess them, and seek God’s forgiveness. This is presented as the path of a Christian who understands accountability and seeks to live in accordance with God’s will.

The message of the sermon is a call to introspection and transformation. It encourages us to examine the alignment between our words and our heart, to not make excuses for sin, to embrace personal accountability, and to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in fostering a heart and speech that reflect God’s righteousness. In essence, our words and actions have eternal implications and that living a life of accountability and integrity is fundamental to the Christian faith.