No Compromise!
29/08/10 11:37
Peter
Cartwright, a nineteenth-century circuit-riding
Methodist preacher, was an uncompromising man. One
Sunday morning when he was scheduled to preach, he
was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the
congregation, and was warned not to say anything out
of line. When Cartwright stood to preach, he said,
“I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. And
I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks.
Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t
repent.” The congregation was shocked and
wondered how the President would respond. After the
service, President Jackson approached Cartwright and
shook hands with him, saying, “Sir, if I had a
regiment of men like you, I could whip the
world.”
I wonder how many times we Christians compromise our faith, for fear that those around us will be offended or think of us as fanatical. We want to be accepted, even by those in the world and so we tone down the message that we should be living with all our strength. Someone once asked a woman what was it like being a Christian and she responded that Christianity was a lot like being a pumpkin. “What do you mean?” was the next question. She responded again. “Christianity is like being a pumpkin. God reaches down and pulls you out of the dirty pumpkin patch where all the other pumpkins are growing and living. He then, cuts your top off and cleans you out of all that junk of yourself. He then carves a smiley face on you and sticks His light in you for all the world to see.” Jesus said that no one lights a lamp and then sticks it under a bowl. No, they put the lamp on the stand so that it lights the whole room. We are the light of the world and in some cases, the only light, some folks will ever see. I am sure that if you and I knew of those Divine moments that God uses us for His purpose, we would be sure to give Him our best witness. But, since we don’t know when (every time) God chooses to use us – shouldn’t we be ready all the time? You know, in the early days of the Greek games, it wasn’t the runner who ran the race in the shortest time that won, but it was the one who crossed the finish line with his torch still burning.
One sure way to keep the light in you burning bright is to follow Peter’s advice in 2Peter 1, “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2Peter 1:5-11
I know your heart is for the Lord. I also know that living an uncompromised life for Him is one of the hardest things to do. May His grace be sufficient for you, so that you may live out what your heart desires! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shine bright in your hearts and may your inner man prosper in the Lord.
I wonder how many times we Christians compromise our faith, for fear that those around us will be offended or think of us as fanatical. We want to be accepted, even by those in the world and so we tone down the message that we should be living with all our strength. Someone once asked a woman what was it like being a Christian and she responded that Christianity was a lot like being a pumpkin. “What do you mean?” was the next question. She responded again. “Christianity is like being a pumpkin. God reaches down and pulls you out of the dirty pumpkin patch where all the other pumpkins are growing and living. He then, cuts your top off and cleans you out of all that junk of yourself. He then carves a smiley face on you and sticks His light in you for all the world to see.” Jesus said that no one lights a lamp and then sticks it under a bowl. No, they put the lamp on the stand so that it lights the whole room. We are the light of the world and in some cases, the only light, some folks will ever see. I am sure that if you and I knew of those Divine moments that God uses us for His purpose, we would be sure to give Him our best witness. But, since we don’t know when (every time) God chooses to use us – shouldn’t we be ready all the time? You know, in the early days of the Greek games, it wasn’t the runner who ran the race in the shortest time that won, but it was the one who crossed the finish line with his torch still burning.
One sure way to keep the light in you burning bright is to follow Peter’s advice in 2Peter 1, “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2Peter 1:5-11
I know your heart is for the Lord. I also know that living an uncompromised life for Him is one of the hardest things to do. May His grace be sufficient for you, so that you may live out what your heart desires! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shine bright in your hearts and may your inner man prosper in the Lord.
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