Being Accountable
Each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. Romans 14:12, 13
After my friend had major surgery, he went through physical therapy and conditioning to regain his strength and range of movement. He was fortunate to have a great trainer to work with him, who pushed him to achieve more then he thought possible. But on the very first day of training, he didn’t feel that way.
During the initial session, his trainer told him to do pull-ups. My friend said, “You want me to what?” He couldn’t believe his ears. He said, “You know I had surgery not too long ago, right? They cut right through the muscles in my back! Have you seen my scar? I don’t know if I can do this. It’s gonna hurt! Seriously, I don’t think I have the strength. How about curls instead of pull-ups?” His trainer responded with, “Pull up, and quit your whining.” And with that, my friend reached up and gripped the bar, prayed he wouldn’t cry in front of his workout partners, closed his eyes, and started his ascent. As his feet came off the ground, the trainer placed his shoulder under the back of my friend’s legs, pushing him up to achieve what he thought was impossible. His chin quickly passed over the bar again and again. The pain in his back was overwhelmed by the sense of accomplishment he felt inside. My friend recounts, “The unachievable became reality with the help of a friend; he shared his strength to increase mine.”
You are held accountable for the opportunities God provides for you to add your strength to someone else’s. What God has given you to share will be enough to help others achieve what they believe was impossible before you put your heart into their life. When you get the opportunity either to lift them up or help them down, consider sharing this message from Isaiah 40:29-31, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increase strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Lord, I humble myself before You and ask You to use me to serve and help someone else. Give me a spirit of love and concern. Father, I ask You to hold me accountable to what You have called me to be and to do. Use me for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Alex Himaya, Broken Arrow, OK