The Pursuit: Chasing After Your New Life in ChristSample

“Getting Down the Basics: Accountability” There are some things in life that are scary when faced alone. Our sin can be the scariest. As you walk through this study, you get further away from the moment when you accepted Christ as your Savior. It seems more normal by the day. In fact, you may even begin to think, I’ve got this Christian thing down pretty good. I’m strong enough not to go back to my old life or maybe you’ve already fallen back into an old habit. Truth is, if you keep going it alone, then you’re going to be more likely to go right back to your old life. The Christian life was never meant to be a solo mission. In fact, over and over again scripture mentions that we need each other. Want an example? Notice in today’s passage the way the writer of Hebrews uses the word “we.” It’s “our” faith. Something we hold on to, together. Even more, the writer tells us to encourage one another. Want to guess why? Because living for Jesus in our world is tough. Few people believe in Christ as their Savior, and even fewer are committed to follow Him fully and faithfully. All around us, people are trying to pull us into our old patterns. I’m sure that at least one person who knew you “before Christ” has asked or will ask why you don’t come back with the old crowd and do the old things anymore. The writer of Hebrews is telling us to hold one another accountable. In other words, you need someone in your life that has permission to ask you how your walk with Christ is going. That someone needs to be able to ask if you are falling back into old sins or losing the battle with new temptations. Even more, you need someone to encourage you to stay with Christ. And you need someone to share the victories you are seeing in your life. In short, we need each other. Today, take a few minutes to thank God for the people who have encouraged you in your walk with Christ. Then write down three people who might hold you accountable for connecting to the church and continuing to follow Christ in your daily life. It needs to be someone who has been following Christ longer than you. Maybe a pastor or Bible study teacher. Today, you need to talk to at least one of those people about holding you accountable.