Every year our pastor encourages the entire congregation to join him in reading through the Bible in a year. On day 5, I was in Genesis reading about Noah, his obedience, and how God blessed him and his family because of it. One thing that really jumped out at me in the reading that day was Genesis 9:5.
“And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.” [emphasis mine]
This verse clearly tells us that God will hold the human race accountable. Not just for murder, as referenced in this verse, but for everything we do – everyaction, thought, deed, and word. How do I know this? In the book of Romans, Paul writes:
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. [emphasis mine] Romans 14:10-12 (NIV)
It is important that we know our heart is right toward God. Is there anything you are hiding from God? Any motive? Any hidden sin? Any unforgiveness? Reveal it all to Him. He knows everything about you anyway. According to Hebrews 4:13, there is nothing we can hide from him.
Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. [emphasis mine] Hebrews 4:13 (NCV)
I attend a church where we gather on Sunday mornings for a regular church service, then during the week, smaller groups gather in members’ homes. These groups are typically 8 – 10 (sometimes more) adults who meet for a little fellowship and Bible study. Honestly, it’s in the smaller group setting that I’ve been personally challenged to work on the areas of my life that are not of Christ. The relationships I’ve found through these groups are the most genuine friendships I’ve ever had in my life. I can tell these people anything without fear of it being “front page news” the next day. I can be honest and real and even downright raw in front of them. It’s in those real moments that my life has changed, and my faith in Christ has grown.
God sends Nathan, David best friend, to confront him and help him see his own wrongdoing and then comfort him with the reality of God’s forgiveness. During this conversation, Nathan also had to remind David that the consequences his sin would bring the death of his son with Bathsheba. This couldn’t have been an easy conversation for David to have with anyone…but it had to have been easier coming from someone David trusted.
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