No Compromise

Happy Sunday!

Dr. Bill Winston continued the series entitled, "The Power of Love".  This installment was subtitled, "Climbing Without Compromise".

Matthew 22:34-35 says, "But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying..." (KJV)

The Sadducees and the Pharisees were tempting Jesus. The word tempt is defined as, "to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral".  They wanted to find fault in Jesus and his teachings.  

Even today there are modern day Sadducees and Pharisees!  You probably work or attend church with some.  People who don't understand the calling and purpose on your life, and are hell bent on proving that you are just like them. They want to prove that you are nothing special!  But don't fall in their trap, and don't blame God for their actions. Remember, "Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others." James 1:13 (Contemporary English Version)

God created Man in his image and likeness. I recently saw a meme on Facebook, it said, "Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out!" Just like we resemble and repeat the actions and preferences of our earthly parents, Christians should resemble and repeat the actions of our Heavenly Father. He gave man an assignment. Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (Message) We know that Adam and Eve fell for the temptation. But, God wasn't without other options, he conferred a blessing on Abraham. We are privileged to be a part of that blessing! Galatians 3:13-14 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Dr. Winston recalled something that happened when he worked for IBM. He was set to do a presentation for the higher management of the company. While preparing he saw an old friend from another department. This person was angry with management, and felt that he had been mistreated. Dr. Winston sympathized with the person and when he presented he presented in anger. He left the meeting, and not long after that his boss came into his office. His boss was furious! He told him the higher management had come down to promote him, but after that presentation they changed their minds. He missed out on an opportunity to advance because he internalized someone elses percieved or imagined offense. Proverbs 22:24-25 says, "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." (KJV) Did you get that? Let's try it in another version, just in case you still don't understand! The VOICE translation puts it this way, "Do not befriend someone given to anger or hang around with a hothead. Odds are, you’ll learn his ways, become angry as well, and get caught in a trap."

God has promised us Good Success. We have to continue to walk in Love because Faith only works by Love. Part of this walk involves walking in integrity and not compromising what we believe. We just celebrated Mother's Day. I pray that your day was fabulous! If your mother is still with you, I sincerely hope you showed her some love. If your mother is enjoying Heaven with Jesus, I hope her memory caused you to smile. My mother loved the hymn, "Yeild Not to Temptation" by Horatio R. Palmer. The lyrics still speak to us today!

• Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
• Each vict’ry will help you some other to win;
• Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
• Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
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• Refrain:
• Ask the Savior to help you,
• Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
• He is willing to aid you,
• He will carry you through.
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• Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
• God’s name hold in rev’rence, nor take it in vain;
• Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true;
• Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
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• To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,
• Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down;
• He who is our Savior, our strength will renew;
• Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Love and prayers, Cynthia