See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Sin has a deceitfulness about it that’s subtle and deceptive. Human nature has the tendency to rationalize sin and selfishness in order to get its own way. We are by nature creatures of comfort and selfishness. The sinful nature influences us to want to go our own way and then tries to lie about it when we are found out.

The writer to the Hebrews understood this and therefore challenges them to beware of having a sinful, unbelieving heart. There’s a call for accountability through mutual encouragement. What is true for the Hebrews of that day is true for you and me. We all need accountability and encouragement to stay on track in living for Jesus and walking with integrity of heart. Sin’s deceitfulness has the potential to harden the heart and all of us need to be aware of its dangers.

Accountability is a wonderful gift in my life that functions in many ways to keep me on track. I’m accountable to my wife. I’m accountable to my church council who I meet with monthly to dialogue about church vision and finances. I’m accountable to the individuals I meet with weekly as we do devotions together in a mentoring relationship.

These verses remind me of the danger of sin’s deceitfulness and how important it is to walk in integrity of heart in all things. I am inspired to further encourage the people in my life and the people I pastor to be accountable to someone for mutual encouragement and continued spiritual growth. There’s a peace about my life when I know that I am walking in integrity of heart and safeguarding my heart from sin’s deceitfulness.

Thank you, Father God for being faithful to provide me with people who love me enough to hold me accountable. Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may encourage others to stay on track in living for you. Give me the words to say when I need to hold others accountable for their actions. Give me your grace, mercy and wisdom to love people like you love them, but to be firm when people need to hear difficult things. Help me to please You in all things. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.