HOSEA 12:6 – So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

THEME OF THE DAY. THE EASE OF COMPROMISE. The Christian life is to be a persevering life. It is not for the faint of heart. It will require the greatest of efforts on our part, not some of the time, but all the time. Granted, the Christian life is all of grace from start to finish but that doesn’t mean we “coast” to heaven. Not at all. A proper understanding of grace doesn’t produce a lazy spiritual life. Just the opposite. A person grasping the amazing grace of God finds an inward empowerment leading to a daily resolve to fight the good fight, run the race, and finish the course (2 Timothy 4:7). The Apostle Paul illustrated this truth in his first letter to the Corinthians, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace in a person is never dormant. It strengthens and directs the Christian to live all of life with passion and purpose to honor the Lord and bring pleasure to Him. As we know, this is not and will not be easy. Daily we will face spiritual trials and temptations. And perhaps one of the greatest areas seeking to sideline us in the race is the subtlety of compromise, or “cutting corners” on our obedience and walk with the Lord. To illustrate how easy compromise or “cutting corners” may sneak into our lives, here are two areas that if not recognized and addressed quickly, will become acceptable bad spiritual habits detrimental in our witness and walk with the Lord.

First, “cutting corners” in our commitment to personal growth in the Lord. Friends, life is full, busy, and hurried. We each face tremendous demands on us. And they are good demands – family, work, church, recreation, hobbies, friends, educational pursuits . . . and many others things vying for our time and energy. But we must always keep before us that the number one priority in life is our personal relationship with God. This must be kept untouched and uncompromised in our daily lives. Yes, we may not be able to spend hours in our Bibles and prayer to cultivate our walk with Christ, but we must not equate quantity with quality. All of us, no matter our lots in life, since they come from God, can and must keep Jesus Christ, His Word, and prayer to know Him the most important things in our lives. Cut corners on this, even justifying not cultivating our walk due to life getting in the way, and we are on a dangerous path ultimately leading to a backslidden condition and a whole lot of stress, anxiety, and worry. Compromise of individual growth in grace has left many Christians just existing in their spiritual journey, not enjoying and growing in their spiritual journey.

Next, “cutting corners” in our commitment to corporate growth and involvement in our churches. We must safeguard the Lord’s Day as His Day. If we start compromising His day by allowing worldly activities and events to override faithfulness to His people, there will be spiritual consequences. And one of the most glaring may well be our children becoming spiritual casualties when it comes to church. If they don’t see from parents a solid, uncompromising commitment to God’s primary instrument for the Gospel and growth – the local church, don’t lament and be sad when our children walk away from church, even the faith. They only are following what they observed – a life of spiritual compromise to God’s church; the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). And please, let’s not be deceived and compromise with the thinking we can “do” church on our own without other believers. Not God’s plan and He blesses obedience, not compromise.

The Christian life is a persevering life which means a non-compromising life. Let’s hold fast the truth and not “cut corners” on our walks with the Lord.

PRAYER: “Father, help me never to fear people or circumstances that leads me to compromise Your truth.”

QUOTE: “Compromise of God’s truth and a blemish in our testimony for Him occurs if we fear people more than God.”