READING: Hebrews 3:12-13
I think accountability is important. In fact, I believe the New Testament assumes that believers will hold each other accountable for Christian living (e.g., Col 1:28, James 5:16, Heb 3:12-13, 10:23-25). Thus, I’m in favor of accountability partners and groups. God did not design us to follow Him by ourselves, and the New Testament knows nothing of “lone ranger” Christians.
On the other hand, I want to make this practical suggestion about accountability partners and groups: somebody in the accountability relationship(s) must be experiencing victory. I get concerned when, for example, a group of men struggling with pornography includes no one who’s winning the battle. If their group is simply about mutual confession every time they gather, it can also unintentionally become a “permission-granting” group; that is, nobody’s really given hope if everyone in the room continually reports, “I messed up this week.”
We must trust that the Spirit of God in us grants us the power we need to fight temptation. We will not live in perfection this side of heaven, but we don’t have to live in bondage to sin. We can win—and help others to do the same.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to live in victory today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 9-10, John 10:1-21