Daily Devotional

Although the word accountability has grown in popularity in recent years, I am told the first known use of the English word was in the later part of the 18th century. Having taught the subject through interpreters in several countries, I am also aware of the difficulty of even translating the concept of accountability into a single word.  

Call it the examined life, the disclosed life, the transparent life, the vulnerable life, the defendable life, the reporting life, the responsible life, or the honest life. It is one of the keys to  what Jesus came to offer—the abundant life (cf. John 10:10).  The accountable life is one that lives in the knowledge of an omniscient and loving God who not only knows us intimately, but cares about everything we think, say, and do. It is also the life that takes seriously the responsibility to enlist the help of others on this path to living the way God desires for us.      

I appreciated the obituary I read about a pastor who died after faithfully ministering for decades. His friend wrote of him as having gone on his earthly mission, moving from his best interpretation of what the Bible says to his best imitation of how Jesus lived. I would imagine he had many who came alongside him to help it happen. How about us?

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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