Are you living a compromised life?
I did for many years of my life.
I believed in the Bible and all the things that it talked about such as Heaven and Hell and living a life set apart from the world.
I made compromises in many areas of my life such as music, movies, friends and much more. I was doing this all while going to church and claiming to be a “set apart Christian”. The truth is, I was not set apart from the world but instead I was set apart from God.
Most of my affections were set on things below and not on things above.
The majority if not all who will read this will have to agree that they have either been there as well or that they are still, in fact, living a compromised life.
I did for many years of my life.
I believed in the Bible and all the things that it talked about such as Heaven and Hell and living a life set apart from the world.
I made compromises in many areas of my life such as music, movies, friends and much more. I was doing this all while going to church and claiming to be a “set apart Christian”. The truth is, I was not set apart from the world but instead I was set apart from God.
Most of my affections were set on things below and not on things above.
The majority if not all who will read this will have to agree that they have either been there as well or that they are still, in fact, living a compromised life.
The Bible says we should not be comformed to this world or be friends with the world. If we do so then we are the enemies of God.
The Bible says we should not be ashamed of the gospel but we prove that we are just that by not sharing it. No, living a good life and letting your actions “make people want what you have” is not proclaiming the gospel to anyone. Even heathens can live what appears to be Godly lives but it does nothing to save then. Only Jesus can do that.
The Bible says we should hunger and thirst after righteousness yet we make excuses for the violence and lust we indulge in through our worldly entertainment.
The Bible says we should take up our cross and die for Him daily but we choose to do that on Sundays only and think that is enough. Really? That is not at all what the Bible was talking about in regards to dying for Him. He died for us and yet we choose to mock Him and live in the flesh and still proclaim to be a servant of Christ.
This may sound harsh but what excuse is there really for compromise?
Do you really believe the Bible is the standard for your life? Then why is it not what you live and breathe every day? Are you reading it daily with a hunger and thirst for the righteousness that is written across all of its pages? I have read the Bible daily and not hungered for it in the past. I was really wasting my time in doing this. I was being a “do-good” hypocrite. It was not until I realized how awesome God truly is and that Heaven and Hell really do exist and that this life is no trivial matter to squander away in carnal wantonness, that I really began to see the seriousness of living in God’s Kingdom. Prior to that I was an illegal citizen with no right to claim Him as my King. My flesh was my first love.
We pick and choose the fluffy feel good verses that we want to cling to such as “this is the day the Lord hath made” and “for God so loved the world” and other great verses about what He has done for us but we skim over and even ignore those verses that call us into a life of submission and service towards Him. Following are some of those verses that a true believer gets really excited over.
Even if you're dyslexic you will not miss what Jesus is saying here in these following two verses :
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them , they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:40-42
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7-8
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. [14] Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:12-16
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:5-8
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:13-14, 21-27
Even if you're dyslexic you will not miss what Jesus is saying here in these following two verses :
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them , they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:40-42
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7-8
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. [18] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:17-20
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. [14] Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:12-16
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:5-8
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Luke 11:28
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:13-14, 21-27
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