Compromising
Hi lovelies! We are halfway through July! Christmas will be here before we know it.
Today we are going to discuss something that I believe is a major problem for Christians today and that is... compromising.
We are living in such an iconic era, 2019. Everyone always talks about this time in history as very progressive, accepting, everyone can be happy and do as they wish. Sounds great right? But what does that mean for Christians? We are living in a time where its “positive energy only”, “here for a good time not a long time”. But what is a good time?
What really stands out to me when I look at this day and age, is that everyone is searching for fulfilment, everyone is searching for what makes them feel good. But everyone is looking for what pleases their flesh. What will satisfy them temporarily, whether it is buying expensive goods, drinking, going out and about, aimlessly wandering in search for fulfilment and purpose. What happens is, people follow people that claim to be ‘filled with positive energy’, to find happiness but what they really find is temporary happiness. And this does feel good in the moment, because your feeding your flesh, but as soon as you leave and go home, you’re back to square one; searching for happiness and quick fulfilment for your flesh when really, your spirit is thirsty. Thirsty for God, in need of his word and his presence. But we wouldn’t know that because we are focused on satisfying our flesh.
Sometimes we know what we are doing. We know that we shouldn’t be at a certain party, we know we shouldn’t listen to a certain artist. But we find a strange comfort in, ‘God knows my heart, I’ll just pray for forgiveness.’ The problem with this mentality is that, even though, yes, God does know your heart and he knows your true intentions, why are we allowing and compromising our spiritual wellbeing to satisfy our flesh? You may only like one song by an artist that you shouldn’t be listening to but even that one song probably has lyrics that you shouldn’t be prophesying over your life. Yes, it’s just a song but we all know that the Bible tells us that there is power in the tongue. We should be careful in what we confess over our lives.
As Christians we need to stay vigilant and discern what is going on around us. This is all a ploy to distract us from what is really going on. Are we blindly following societies new way of living? From major changes in the law to even twitter trends, we need to remain cautious. We need to begin to live as if Jesus is coming tomorrow because we do not know when he will come back and the one of the main reasons, we need to live right is to be ready for his arrival. We cannot wait until we see him to then change our way of living.
This new style of life that is rapidly trying to become the norm is causing many, many Christians to compromise their beliefs in order to fit in with society and keep the peace. And this is what we are all getting wrong on a daily basis. We are all compromising! Essentially, we are becoming lukewarm! The Bible tells us clearly in Revelations 3:16 ‘So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.’
When you read this scripture, you can literally envision God spitting you out of his mouth. It's like when you try a new sweet or something, and you don’t like it or it’s extremely sour, your initial reaction is to spit it out. So, you can imagine how distasteful it is to God. I’m pretty sure, you don’t want to be spat out and left behind, so why should we wait until tomorrow morning to live right. Are you HOT or COLD or COMPROMISING? You need to ask yourself this question when you find yourself compromising. Do you want to be spat out?
I feel that people compromise so much to the point that they convince themselves that they are doing the right thing. The idea that “well, I’m not harming anyone so its fine.” We have also convinced ourselves of this idea that “God just wants me to be happy”. You know God never actually said that (*I will leave a link below to a sermon that explains in more detail*.)
This idea has evolved into; whatever makes me happy must be right and whatever makes me unhappy must be wrong. We have become so self-centred that we have convinced ourselves that discomfort, suffering and obstacles can’t be in God’s will. Which is COMPLETELY wrong! If you look at entire Bible, there are multiple obstacles over and over again which were all in Gods will. If Joseph's brothers never sold him, he would have never been promoted and he would have never saved his family during the famine. And there are many more examples in the Bible.
God does not want you to pursue happiness, he wants you to pursue Him!
We need to aim to be holy because he is holy and you will see your life change before you.
Jesus explicitly tells us that you cannot find peace in the world in John 14:27.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
When the Bible reassures us and clearly states that we need to seek God first and he will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:33). So why do we waste our time searching for peace and happiness in the world, through worldly things?
Remain encouraged and faithful, God is hearing your prayer, stay focused on him and he will deliver exactly what you need.
I will leave you with this scripture:
Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Stay blessed.
Marlyse Zouzouko
Scriptures referenced:
Revelations 3:16, John 14:27, Matthew 6:33, Psalm 37:4
*Sermon mentioned:
God Never Said That - https://youtu.be/OmWDuesPTbo