Thoughtful Words - Compromising Words

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." - Matthew 5:33-37

About a year ago, I realized I'd said I'd do a bunch of stuff that I never followed through on. Whether I promised God, my family or my neighbor, I recognized my lack of adequate planning, desire or ability to complete the tasks I'd set out to do. This bothered me. It brought feelings of inadequacy and depression upon my heart. I needed to make some changes.

God's word tells us not to make an oath, to say we're going to absolutely, for sure do something. We should never swear on our mother's grave (or by heaven, earth or Jerusalem) that we will see it through, that we will be there for someone, that we will get 'er done. Because things happen in life that are beyond our control. These things tend to get in the way of whatever our heart and mind was set on accomplishing. Then our word becomes nothing to those we've promised the world.

I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this compromise. Peter did the same. 

In Matthew 26, we find Jesus partaking of the Last Supper with His disciples. He's already mentioned that Judas would betray Him. Then, He tells the disciples, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered (v. 31).'"

Peter immediately responds without thinking, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble(v. 33)."

To which Jesus replies, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times (v.34)."

Again, Peter doesn't weigh his words. He says, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You! (v. 35)"

A few years ago, God asked me to consider my faith. It's a word that has stayed in my heart for a long time. I believe it will remain with me until the day I die. It's a simple question, and a timely one, considering the age we're living in. He simply asked, "Will you stand for me?" Of course, my heart immediately jumped to say Yes! However, my wisdom said, "Lord, will I be able to stand for You? Will my faith endure? Will I find my strength in You when I face times of tribulation?" Because I want to say Yes. But I acknowledge I am only human. And if Peter, the rock upon whom Jesus built His church, denied Jesus three times at the time of His crucifixion, who am I to say I'll be able to stand? Uncompromising in my faith? Unwavering before the cross of my day?

"It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,And afterward to reconsider his vows." - Proverbs 20:25

When we promise to do something and then neglect to get it done, our words are compromised. Our intentions are compromised. Our integrity is compromised. Rather than being seen as someone dependable, people begin to say, "You can't count on her."

I don't want to be seen as undependable. I don't want to vow to do something and then neglect to do so. I'm a Christian, standing on my faith in God. If I promise to do something for someone and neglect to follow through, I not only compromise my own image, I compromise the image of God, in whose image I am created. I must remember Who I represent. I must learn to let my Yes be Yes and my No, No.

Which means I must change. I must set my boundaries in life, manage my time and learn to use the word No when I am already inundated with things to do. I must prioritize and stick with my priorities.

How about you? Are you making compromises? Or are you able to say Yes and mean it?

Photo Courtesy of Gary Scott

Easter Devotion Two: Cock-a-Doodle-Doo

Photo Courtesy of aljabak

Have you ever been asked by God to step out of your comfort zone and do something for Him?

Maybe He wants you to forgive your arch nemesis and give her a call. Every vein in your body pops to the surface whenever you think of it. So you hold your anger and avoid the phone call.

Maybe He wants you to volunteer at the homeless shelter twice a week, but your favorite shows are on those nights. So you neglect His call and sit in front of your television, enjoying the luxuries of life others cannot afford.

Maybe He wants you to forgo that morning cup of coffee for a year so you can save for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Rather than filling the land with paper cups, you'll be filling a church with new converts next year...

Peter can relate. In John 13:27, Peter wants to follow Jesus with all of his heart. "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake."

Jesus knows Peter too well. "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster shall not crow til you have denied Me three times." (John 13:28)

Oftentimes, we tell God we want to serve Him. We tell Jesus we desire to follow hard after Him. We cry out, "I'm bored. Give me something meaningful to do with my life."

Yet, the minute God calls us out of our comfort zone, we deny Him. Usually more than once. Our excuses are petty. "I'm too busy." "My family needs me." "I don't have enough money." "I don't have the time." "I don't really want to do that." "Someone else will do it."

A few years ago, I sat in my kitchen, the early morning darkness broken only by the light over the sink, cup of coffee in hand, Word of God open on the table. I'd been praying over the same thing multiple weeks in a row. I couldn't shake the task God had placed on my heart. But, I didn't want to accept I had to do it, either. I wished the cup could pass from me. I wished someone else would say the words He'd called me to say. "Lord, let someone else be this trumpet."

When I couldn't get past the urgency in my heart, I broke down and cried over it. I pleaded with God to give me just the right words. Just the right strategy to broach the subject. Just the right tone to let the recipient know it came from a deep place within me that only the Holy Spirit could go.

I knew God wanted me to be His mouthpiece and tell someone I love dearly that their lifestyle choice went against His design for man, His word and His will. Not an easy or comfortable task, I promise you.

So I wrote. I wrote my heart out on paper. I knew it lined up with God's heart for him. I knew it lined up with God's word, because that's basically what I said. This is God, not me. This is His word, not mine. I love you. I care for you. I want to see you set free in the Truth. Please know you mean the world to me.

I found myself unfriended on Facebook the following day. But I felt it with all my being that God smiled on me for standing on His truth. And I am okay with that.

I still pray for that friend who is like a brother to me. I still pray that God will use that seed I planted in faith to grow into a relationship with Jesus. I still love that friend, BUT I LOVE GOD MORE.

And I have that peace that passes all understanding knowing that I did what God asked me to do. Even though I denied Him more than three times first.

"Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know the Man!' Immediately, a rooster crowed.
 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' So he went out and wept bitterly."
 - Matthew 26:74-75

What will you do when God asks you to step out of your comfort zone. Will you deny Him the opportunity to bless you? Or will you step out in faith that He has it all under control?

Lord, help us today to trust You and to have faith that You know what needs to be done for Your kingdom here on earth. Please help us to step out of our comfort zones, denying our selfish will and stepping into Your plan and purpose for our lives. Let us not be like Peter, who wept and cried after denying You. Let us be like Jesus, who proclaimed, "Not My will, but Yours be done."