No Compromise!
To compromise means to go a little bit below what you know to be right, and it is a major way Satan deceives people. The devil says that “just once” won’t hurt. That is what he told Jesus when he tempted Him in the wilderness (see Luke 4). He said if Jesus would bow down and worship him just once, he would give Him all the kingdoms of this world (see Luke 4:5-8). I once heard a funny story about a father whose children were trying to convince him to let them go to a movie that had a little foul language and a few inappropriate sex scenes.
They argued that just a little bit wouldn’t hurt them. He told them no and then proceeded to give them an example of how dangerous just “a little bit” can be. He baked his children’s favorite cookies and then told them he had added just a tiny bit of a new ingredient—dog poop—but he guaranteed them that they would not taste it at all. Not one of them was willing to try the new cookies.
Dad made his point! Jesus said that we are in the world but we are not to be like it (see John 17:14–16; Romans 12:2). Likewise, Paul wrote to Timothy that a soldier in service does not get entangled in the enterprises of civilian life—his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him (see 2 Timothy 2:4). What does this mean for us? Set standards, live by them, and don’t compromise when others urge you to do so. Don’t believe the “just once” or the “a little won’t hurt” lies! Just because someone else does something, that doesn’t make it right for you. We must not let the fear of what people think of us lead us to compromise our moral behavior. If our faith in Jesus is genuine and sincere, then we will be the same in every situation.
Pray: Father, I want to honor You with my life. Help me in all things to be a person of integrity who refuses to compromise. Help me to live my life for You, regardless of what everyone else is doing. Your Word says that when we honor You with our lives, You will honor us (see 1 Samuel 2:30). In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.