Today, we’re happy to introduce Sister Linda Baez, our guest writer for the month of June! Over the next four weeks, she’s going to deep dive into the topic of accountability. What is accountability? Why is it important? What does it teach us about serving God and maturing as Christians? We hope you enjoy this series!

Do you repent of your sins?

Do you promise to serve the Lord to the best of your ability all the days of your life?

We each start our walk with the Lord being accountable for what we have done and promising to be accountable for our future.

Accountability.

The word accountability decided to circle inside my brain for weeks now. In my mind, every problem that I read about, hear about, or experience is solved by accountability. 

Accountability is to accept responsibility or account for one’s actions. So much good comes from being accountable.

I gave my life to the Lord young. I was fourteen. I did not have much “sin.” And, quite honestly, I did not feel a need to be baptized because of my sin. I felt a need to be baptized because I knew better. I knew it was right. I knew I needed to commit to the Lord. My father, who took me into the warm waters of regeneration at GMBA Camp 1997, even asked me, “Are you sure? You seem pretty nonchalant about this.” But for me, this was a logical decision for my spiritual well being. Yes, I was ready. 

Ready to be accountable. 

My accountability grew as I grew. The more and more knowledge I gained, the more I knew when I was staying close to the Lord and when I was straying. Also, there were times when I thought I was with the Lord, but I wasn’t. 

There are so many parallels to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Before eating the forbidden fruit, God gave them a commandment to be accountable to. He asked them not to eat the fruit. This required them to continually make the decision to listen and be responsible for their actions. 

Of course, once they consumed the fruit, they gained knowledge of sin and became aware of their nakedness and shame before the Lord. God came looking for them and held them accountable for their decision.

This began the fulfillment of God’s plan for love and sacrifice. And accountability.

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

Ultimately, understanding accountability allows us to fulfill the promise we made to God at the water’s edge and live in God’s will.

Next Friday, Sister Linda will expand her discussion of accountability by talking about Jonah and how he tried to run from his.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.