No Compromise, No Surrender
Surrender listens to the lions.
Compromise breeds an ill-fitting faith. It mis-aligns faith as an extra for living, rather than the map to life.
The Bible documents the Apostle Peter well. Part of his fame springs from his sincere lack of emotional regulation.
Impulsively Peter had followed Jesus.
Just before He died Jesus washed Peter's feet. Just after His resurrection Jesus cleansed Peter's heart.
With an equal impulsivity Peter had retreated from Jesus at His Lord's darkest hour, but Peter had not wandered too far astray. His compromise retrievable.
Jesus soon restored Peter, but warned he would become familiar with hardship - the suffering of the righteous.
Jesus turned Peter's weakness into power.
Another quarter of a century on and this now steadfast Apostle took no prisoners when he penned these instructions:
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps... When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed.’ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25)
Christ would be Lord of all or not at all.
There is no salvation from heaven without surrender upon earth.
Following Jesus bears an immense cost for it promises a pain inducing self-denial, and guarantees suffering - but note ... it costs far more not to.
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. ~ C.T. Studd
The only right way of life is the righteous way.
Compromise is the pioneer of loss - retreat the mother to regret.
Today's Soul Snippet:
Jesus came to be the feast on my table and not just a snack on my menu of life.
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ENJOY ~ Are You Called To Forsake All?