A Little Here, A Little There

A Little Compromise Here, A Little There

I am convinced that the Devil works his deceitful madness one "little" sin at a time.  He infiltrates the heart of man in gradual compromises.  (A little leaven here and a little leaven there.)  He attempts to bring the downfall of all men, but can you imagine how much extra time he and his fellow demons seek to bring the downfall of those who openly herald and share the Gospel with others?

 Is there something in most of us that cannot stand hypocrisy?  (On any level, not just a religious level.)  I can't give a sweeping or absolute yes or no on that question, but I am inclined to believe the answer is closer to yes.  Most of us do not enjoy hearing others say one thing, yet they do the opposite.  It makes us suspicious.  It makes us doubt the person.  We can apply this to observations of ourselves, as well.   We know if we are being hypocrites, and unless we have completely hardened ourselves, there is shame that accompanies that realization.

The Devil is stealth.  He knows how to use man's disgust with hypocrisy as a weapon against that very same man.  What do I mean?

If a person is being led of the Holy Spirit, the Devil seeks to change that.   If a person is truly obedient to the Lord's will and the Lord's direction, the Devil will put up a fight.  If a person truly preaches the power of God's grace to transform people from wickedness to righteousness (from the inside out), you can be sure the Devil is laying some traps along that person's path!

In all likelihood, the traps are little - Nothing overt for this man or woman of God.  The Devil isn't stupid!   A little trap here and a little trap there will serve his purpose. One compromise at a time - a "little" lie here, and a "little" lust there; a "little" fantasizing there, and a "little" profanity here;  a "little" filthy joke there, and a "little" hate here; a little pride here, and a little worry there, a little fear of man here, and a little love of self there, a little destruction of the temple of God here and a little destruction of it there; a "little" of any sin here and a "little" of any sin there.  Small doses of compromise.

Just one compromise at a time and the once speaker of righteousness begins to shave a "little" truth here and a "little" repentance there from his sermons.  Not shaving off a little truth and a little repentance would make him a hypocrite. Again, Satan will use our own disgust of hypocrisy against us.  Compromising to sin in one's personal life will lead to the gradual and systematic compromise of the Word of God.  Satan plays on our own disgust of hypocrisy to entrap us:  "If I can entice them to sin here and there, their own guilt of being a hypocrite won't permit them to preach the whole Truth."  Many have fallen for this in the church. The Bible speaks of such times leading to the falling away: 2 Timothy 4:3, 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 2:10, 2:11, 2:12, 2 Peter 3:17, Revelation 2:5

Repent. Obey. Follow. Be Truly Transformed By This Great Saviour.  ~No, Satan and his demons fight against this Truth of the Gospel.  If you speak it, there is a bull's eye on you.  You are in his sights.

Rely fully on Christ to help you overcome whatever "little" compromise Satan presents to you.  IN Christ, you do not have to give in to the sin!  When the Lord showed me this years ago, my life was forever and ever changed!  I was being tormented by Satan to compromise, but I sought the Lord continually by prayer, fasting, and reading the Bible (His Holy Word).  The Lord miraculously delivered me! Satan shriveled up.  I will never forget the Lord's utter annihilation of Satan in that battle against sin.  I owe the LORD my complete servitude, not because I am trying to earn anything but because I LOVE HIM more than words!  He rescued me and continues to every time I cry out to Him.

He is my hero riding in on a white horse.  Literally.

How has Satan and his minions sought to bring compromise in your life?  Have you given in to the compromise a little here and a little there, and now you find yourself steering clear of any notion that a believer can be made righteous (inside and out) by the power of God's grace?  Do you find yourself speaking less about the Lord's ability to help you overcome every sinful temptation?  Instead, do you talk more about His acceptance of you, even though you practice sin?

Were you the one who once spoke out against sin in conversations, only now to remain silent because you know speaking against sin would make you a hypocrite?

The Lord extends His hand to you.  He accepts our request for forgiveness when we are broken by our failure to serve Him in Spirit and in Truth.  He accepts our pleadings for forgiveness when we turn in disgust away from our sinful compromises.  1 John 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, Matthew 3:1, 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 9:13, Matthew 11:20, Matthew 12:41, Mark 1:15, Mark 6:12, Luke 3:8, Luke 13:3, Luke 15:10, Luke 17:4, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:22, Acts 17:30, 2 Corinthians 7:9, 2 Corinthians 12:21, 2 Timothy 2:25, Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:21, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 3:19,

When Satan ensnares you (a little sin here and a little sin there), you will make others feel comfortable while they continue in sin because to do otherwise would make you a hypocrite.  "Let's all join together and rejoice that the blood of Jesus covers us while we continue in sin!" Sadly, this is the sleight of hand by the Devil himself.  He has convinced so many that they are showing compassion to their fellow man or fellow brother in this matter when, in reality, hearts are being hardened against true Biblical repentance.  He is so deceptive.

Let us heed the LORD's words regarding unrepentant sin.  Hebrews 10:26, 10:27, 10:28, 10:29, 10:30, 10:31, Hebrews 6:4, 6:5, 6:6, 6:7, 6:8, 2 Peter 2:1, 2:2, 2:3, 2:14, 2:15, 2:18, 2:19, 2:20, 2:21, 2:22

Glory to God, however, for His wonderful way of escape from sin.  

The GRACE OF GOD empowers us to systematically overcome every sin that seeks to ensnare us:

Titus 2:11, 2:12, 2:13, 2:14, 2:15

1 Peter 5:6, 5:7, 5:8, 5:9, 5:10, 5:11, 5:12

I will not deny what the LORD taught me by His presence during the darkest days of my life. 

Friends, let us join in humble and truthful prayer that those who have veered off of the path of Truth will come to a place of realization and turn back onto the narrow path that leads to life.  

There is no room for compromise.