Organizing the Inside – Day 108 Does Love Compromise?

December 20, 2011 at 11:30 am · Filed under Encouragement, Inspiration, Leadership, Relationship, Uncategorized, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christian, Christianity, Jesus

This depends on your view of compromise.

14Then we will no longer be immature like children… 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:14a-16

I learned to never compromise.
There was a time not long ago when as far as I was concerned, compromising was one of the worst things a Christian could do. I viewed everything as black and white, it was either right or wrong and if you don’t like it “It’s all good, keep stepping.” Oh my! I use to hold out for the 110% absolute best and 99% was unacceptable. I held others to this same ridiculous standard.  I thought, “Listen, my friend that’s just not good enough” and I’d shout it from the roof tops. I thought that people who saw things as a gray were obviously highly mistaken, and had lost their way. Then the truth hit me one day like a ton of bricks. Something a pastor told me years ago, that I needed to add knowledge to my zeal. I realized later what he meant. My gift of prophesy was way off balanced and I needed to allow the love of God to modify my strengths; not making them weaker but more refined. Then I was able to accept people for who they are, where they are and therefore making my gift a more useful one.

It’s okay if you disagree.
So I reject you, denounce you and condemn what you are doing and what you believe. You go your way and I’ll go mine. Hum?  Hit them with the truth and move on, may be an approach, but it certainly isn’t the only approach. I’m not suggesting changing the Word of God, or even sharing a watered down gospel. Christianity is not a tip-toe-through-the-tulips way of life. What I’m talking about is the condition of your heart (my heart) in ministry. I’m talking about it being more important that lives are changed, than to receive recognition for great and eloquently spoken truths. There can be a wide divide between having a ministry that touches hearts and lives, and achieving a certain level of prestige because you are well-known for your many great words. I do believe that, one who shares the truth, and does it in love can close this wide divide; having a ministry that is not only effective but one that receives great recognition for sharing the truth.

This was a personal revelation that changed my life.
Perhaps the point at which things took on a new direction. I no longer felt it necessary to cut ‘em up with the word of truth. I still do my best to bring folks the truth; “uncompromisingly” that’s how God made me. However, what’s different is the vehicle from which it flows. Now when I share God’s truth it is with a deep realization that it must be from the heart and not my head. If it’s not done in love… then I am just wasting my time and theirs. Who can receive from one who is unwilling to see anything other than their own hyped-up opinion or interpretation? We are all different, we each have our own strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities; but accepting and loving people just as they are, is part of what God requires, if we are to be used by Him.

God meets us where we are.
What If Jesus told me, you aren’t good enough, or clean enough, come back later when you have yourself together? He accepted me with all my broken parts, and loved me anyway. He told me to come on in, not because of what I had attained, but because His love was unconditional and He accepted me as me. I think the love of Jesus sets an example that we have to strive for. No matter how foolish our thinking, no matter how many mistakes, no matter how ridiculous our view-point or even how far we may roam… Nothing can separate us from His love. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38, 39
When it comes to compromising, certainly I’ve changed my thinking because the Word of truth is now written in my heart and is no longer only in my head. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
I believe love is the one thing that can’t be compromised.

Comments (4)