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"And he said to the judges, 'Consider what you are doing for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.' " (2 Chronicles 19:6) These words were spoken by Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, who had just inaugurated changes in the way the nation's government operated by appointing judges in all the fortified cities. He wanted the judges to consider, to make mental observation, and to think carefully about how they would carry out their responsibilities in their new positions of leadership. So often when we find ourselves in a mess, or when we find things aren't going the way we had hoped, that is when we take the time to think about how we are carrying out our God-given responsibilities.
One of the ways we can prepare our hearts in these days leading up to our revival meetings is to set aside some time to consider our lives. We need to ask the Lord if there is any area of our life that does not reflect Whose we are. As we submit ourselves to the shining of God's light on our lives, God will begin to show us those areas that are consistent as well as inconsistent to our professions of faith.
Jehoshaphat also told them for whom they were carrying out their responsibilities, "You do not judge for man but for the Lord." Ephesians 6:7 says, "With good will render service as to the Lord, and not to men." We need to ask ourselves if it makes a difference when we are mindful of whom we are ultimately serving. Several years ago, a woman who was a leader of a conference workshop that I attended, greeted each lady with a hug as they entered the classroom. Later she told us that as she did so, she whispered under her breath, "Unto You Lord." I have since thought about those words when I have been faced with a difficult task or something that I was called on to do that I really didn't want to do and have noticed what a difference it makes in my attitude.
Finally Jehosophat said to them, "It is the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.” Accountability is something all of us need in our lives but often we struggle with or rebel against it in our human relationships. However, whether or not we like it, the truth is that ultimately we are accountable to the Lord. He always knows the attitudes of our hearts, the words we speak, and the actions that we do or fail to do. He knows if these things are godly or ungodly.
In the weeks to come before our revival, I pray we will consider our ways, remember who we do what we do for as believers, and who ultimately we are accountable to. I pray that we will cooperate with the purifying work of the Father in our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Amy Barron
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