Who Is Your Nathan?

I've recently started my journey through the book 11: Indispensable Relationships You Can't Be Without by Leonard Sweet. It characterizes 11 different Biblical figures and explains how each one's characteristics are important in your daily life. The first of these is Nathan ("You need an Editor").

Nathan was the man who told David, "Hey, you need to stay away from Bathsheba. She isn't God's calling for you." Sweet calls Nathan the editor because your Nathan should be someone who can speak the truth in an effort to get you to speak the truth. At the same time, your Nathan helps you maintain your own voice (much like when someone edits an essay).

To figure out who my Nathan was, it took one small section of the chapter that involved accountability. Instead of someone being an accountability partner they should take the stance of an editor. With accountability, "it is too easy to keep double books: one book for your accountability team, and another secret book for yourself." On the other hand, an editor receives your original copy and makes the necessary marks to bring out your own voice of truth.

My Nathan hasn't been a close friend for too long, actually; still, I feel as if God has truly placed us together as friends for a reason. We might never figure it out, but we've come to the conclusion that that isn't important. I won't tell you who this person is because it's not important. They will know who they are, I know who they are, and God knows who they are.