This may sound extreme but doesn’t there need to be a “No compromise” stance when it comes to walking with Jesus, because let’s be honest He’s always expected more than the status quo from those who follow Him.
Take for example Jesus’ words when He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
Or, “I wish that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth.(Revelation 3-15-16)
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The bible says some pretty blunt things. God doesn’t mince His words. His Yes is Yes and His No is No. There are no shifting shadows or compromise in Him. “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
God expects it to be very clear to others searching for truth or even simply observing us that there is something different about those who profess to know Jesus. People are desperately searching to see what it looks like when we are the “real deal” about our faith and relationship with Jesus. But sadly too often they quite simply can’t tell the difference between those who say they know Him and those who don’t!
Why is that? Perhaps it is because people want to play in both playgrounds; to dabble in the things of Heaven and the Spirit as well as the world and the things of the flesh.
Which is just what the devil wants because he doesn’t want us to choose which play ground. He pretends we can dabble in both because he knows compromise will eventually leave us powerless and far from our God given destiny and purpose. He negotiates, cajoles and encourages us to make concessions in what we believe and the way we live until we can hardly tell the difference between right and wrong and are left in a weak, wishy-washy and confused “no man’s land”.
But one person deciding they will live a life of “No Compromise” is going to affect others and make a difference in this world.
If just one person gets to the top of their mountain; one person breaks out of the pack. If one person says, “I’m not going to bow, I’m not going to be lax, I’m not going to cheat on my partner, I’m not going to sleep around, I’m not going to be one of the crowd, I’m not doing that. When they choose the road of “No Compromise” they are on their way to the top and affecting everyone for good along the way.
But we can’t do this in our own ability. We need Jesus, and I’ve discovered when we put Him first place in our lifemconsistently every day we find in Him a place where we can tap into His love, strength and supernatural ability to live a life of “No Compromise”. Plus then we don’t “give a hoot” what other people may think or say about us and the devil can’t get a foothold in our life because we come to realize that “greater is He that is in us” (1 John 4:4).
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
“In the day when I cried out, you answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” (Psalm 138:3)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Isn’t it about time we chose the way of “No Compromise?” That we became the “real deal”. No plan B – just Jesus. Knowing that if we stumble we don’t just go back to our old ways or fall in with the crowd, but that we run to God and allow Him to “dust us off” and get us right back out there again because, “Though he stumbles, he will not fall down flat, for the LORD will hold up his hand.”(Psalm 37:24)
Today I encourage you to make a decision to put Jesus and what He says first place in your life. That your final word and stance in every decision and situation you face is, “I will not Compromise!”
Prayer: Lord please forgive me where I have been compromising and help me to be a person who knows what and in whom I believe and who doesn’t negotiate or make concessions in following you. I want to be a person who walks the path of “No Compromise”, so please help me to deal with any issues or strongholds in my life that try to hold me back and give me strength to follow you in every part of my life today. In Jesus Name Amen.
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