READ: MATTHEW 7:1-5; ROMANS 8:1; JAMES 3

Yesterday, we talked about how the little habits we maintain as Christians can make a big difference. I shared the story of how I forgot to post information online prior to an important meeting at work—a responsibility that previously hadn’t felt all that important.

After the meeting, I found myself trying to justify why I hadn’t uploaded the agenda. Generally, someone else sends it to me, then I upload it. So, I went through my emails to see if the agenda had ever been given to me. I saw that I had requested it, never received it. But that was months ago. It was my job to keep track of what was or wasn’t posted, and it was my responsibility to reach out to this individual and follow up with them. I’d had plenty of time.

At work the next day, it took everything in me not to pin the blame on this person. And while maybe I shouldn’t take on all the responsibility for this error, it was in the end, mine.

As Christians, taking ownership of our thoughts, words, and actions is huge. In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus warns us against calling out other people’s faults but ignoring our own. Similarly, the book of James talks at great length about the impact of our words and deeds on other people who are made in the image of God. As Christians, we are called and empowered to walk with integrity and represent Christ well. Part of that is owning up to our mistakes and sins.

But taking ownership doesn’t just apply to our interactions with people. Taking ownership for our sin is a massive part of salvation. When we accept Jesus’s gift of forgiveness and become a Christian, we are admitting that, apart from Him, we are sinful people. And as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, He calls us to be open with Him about all our mistakes and sins, along with all our frustrations and hopes. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He works in us, transforming us to become more and more like Christ and grow in His love. • Natty Maelle

• A big part of ownership is accountability. We all make mistakes, and we all sin. It’s tempting to not own up to what we’ve done—or worse, let someone else take the blame for it—and that’s why it’s important to have people in our lives who can hold us accountable. Who is a trusted Christian you can be honest with, especially when you’re struggling? Consider asking them to help you grow, check in on you to ask how certain problems are going, pray with you, etc.

• Have you received Jesus’s gift of freedom from sin? Carrying around sin can be incredibly heavy—especially when guilt gets involved. You can give all that to Jesus today. He died on the cross, taking all of that sin on Himself, and then He rose again, cancelling it all out (“Know Jesus” page).

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. James 5:16 (NIV)