DEV:Being accountable to God  by Bill Bennett

   It is the nature of all men and women to wish their own
independence. Everyone at some time or another exerts their own
independence in the form of rebellion, rejection of authority, or the
setting aside the common sense rules of respect to flex their
'independent muscles'.

   Self will is plain and simple selfishness. For the unsaved
individual, self will comes as a form of rebellion against the commands
of the Lord. When the Lord said, "Thou shalt not murder", the self will
rebels, trying to think of some way to murder. When God said, "Thou
shalt not commit adultery", the natural man became obscessed with ways
to commit adultery. The Lord knows what's harmful, warns us against it,
puts some "teeth" into the warning (judgement for disobedience) and we
STILL go right ahead and do it. When you look at murder and adultery,
nothing good ever comes of either one, the adulterer might be murdered
by and angry spouse!

   We just detest being held accountable to God, today or in the
future, when you boil it right down. Our spirit of independence says we
can be 'our own man', the heck with everyone else! Take a look at some
of the religious leaders today. Notice in the last couple of months how
those who still 'tow the line' are saying, "We're accountable!" That's
some of the best news we've heard in a long time.

   Making ourselves accountable to someone else, a church, a pastor, or
just another individual can keep us walking closer to the Lord. We sin
when we think "Aha!... the coast is clear!... nobody will know..."

   Except God.........