Accountability: We all need it to grow.

I wrote recently about being the "solo" Christian. That's not only very difficult, it's dangerous. We miss out on love and support to hold us up, and hold us together. But we also miss subtle warnings and rebukes.

How can we receive rebuke from God? [[And don't think that you won't:]]

Jeremiah 30:11 - For I will be with you-this is the Lord's declaration-to save you! I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have scattered you; however, I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you justly, but I will by no means leave you unpunished.

Hebrews 12:7 - Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers.

Hebrews 12:8 - But if you are without discipline--which all receive--then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Proverbs 3:11 - Do not reject the discipline of the LORD, my son, and do not resent his warning...

Job 5:17 - Blessed is the person whom God corrects. That person should not despise discipline from the Almighty.

Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent.

These scriptures don't say if God diciplines. They say when. And just as God's voice can come in so many different ways into our hearts -- from wisdom of friends, to reading the word, to a thought or inner feeling -- his rebuke can also come from many sources.

Job 37:13 - Whether for discipline, or for the good of his earth, or out of mercy, he makes the storm appear.

Isaiah 26:16 - Lord, they went to You in their distress;they poured out whispered prayers because Your discipline fell on them.

Sometimes God uses circumstances to get our attention. Loss of our support structures (Job, organizations, etc) death of a loved one, a car accident, tragic circumstances, or a dip in finances -- only to name a few. But this is the extreme. God speaks softly in teaching. He also speaks only as loud as neccesary.

Proverbs 1:8 - My son, listen to your father's discipline, and do not neglect your mother's teachings,

Jeremiah 35:13 - "This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ... Will you not accept discipline by listening to My words?"

God doesn't break out the destructo-wand for punsihment. He isn't a vengeful person waiting to strike us silly. He wants to rebuke us first with words. Even from our teachers, our parents and others in authoritative roles in our lives, God speaks and corrects our actions. Those things we learned are used in our lives (even after-the-fact) to keep us on the right track.

Sometimes he may use the voice of a friend: someone who we've allowed to hold us accountable. If you haven't given someone that option, God has to speak louder to break throught he noise of life to tell us what we need to hear. Be involved in an active body of those that believe in God, then listen carefully. God will direct you there, and you will find that the rebuke doesn't have to be so strong.

Is God trying to get your attention? Is he going to have to speak louder to get it? Or are you going to stop and respond as Samuel did : "Here I am." (1 Samuel 3:4) or of Mary, the Mother of Jesus "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)