LEARNING DAILY

Galatians 1:6-7, I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

There are times compromise is not good! Compromising the gospel of Jesus Christ is certainly not a time to compromise. Paul was concerned, and perhaps surprised that the Christians in Galatia have been so quick to mix the teachings of the gospel with manmade doctrines. The Bible makes it clear that God does not ignore, does not condone the compromising of His Word! In other words, Believers do not negotiate, do not bargain with the commands of God!

The problem with compromise is that it often comes at us in a subtle way. Compromise may not demand the Believer wholeheartedly surrender or submit to worldly ways or ideals. Compromise will attempt for the Believer to accept and accommodate those worldly ways. The Christians in Galatia compromised the gospel with the teachings of those who were perverting the grace of Christ with a different gospel. It’s okay to follow and obey the law because you still have Jesus (or so was the teaching).  

Believers cannot compromise the truth today in order to appeal to people; it must be their aim to please God only. There can be no compromise on the essential of the Christian faith, the standards that the gospel of Jesus Christ sets forth. It is essential for Believers to live out our biblical beliefs. It does no good to know the truth but not live our lives based on that truth. When the Believer’s intention is to live the way the Bible tells us to live, to do our best to walk on the narrow way with Jesus, compromise is less likely to occur. That includes recognizing what things might try to tempt us to walk different from what the Bible teaches.

I do not believe any of us are able to do this in our own strength. Philippians 2:14 tells us, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. God’s word encourages us to walk according to God’s desires; He is walking with us to guide and help us do so. All Believers need to follow Romans 12:2 which tells us to “renew our mind” daily by being in God’s Word so we can know and follow His will. Psalm 1:2 tells us, “to delight in the law of the Lord’ meditating on it day and night.”

Living a life that does not compromise the gospel is done out of love, out of gratitude and appreciation for what Jesus Christ has done for us. He gave His life so we would not have to hang on a cross for our sins. Not one time did He compromise His mission to save whosoever would believe in Him; not one time did He compromise the mission His Father sent Him to accomplish. Because of that, it seems Believers could live an uncompromising life in a world that seems to compromise all things. Can we not find the strength and courage to follow uncompromising devotion to our Savior who should be our example as we walk the narrow way!