DAY 213 – NO COMPROMISE

By Pastor Wilberforce Bezudde

“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14)

The truth of the gospel (the Good News) should not be nullified by adding conditions to it, to accommodate people’s options. Salvation is by grace – through faith. Salvation does not come through Christ and adherence to the law. We cannot compromise with ideas or actions that violate the Good News or support the claim; that Christ was not sufficient for salvation.

Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we cannot compromise the truth about the gospel message because we want to get along with others. We can obtain freedom not to feel like we have to change what we have experienced, believed, or our values to match those of our companions. In this case, although Peter was a leader of the church, he acted like a hypocrite. He knew better, yet he was driven by fear of what James and the others would think. 

Proverbs 29:25 tells us that; “the fear of man brings a snare but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe”. Jesus is Lord!

Today’s Prayer
Dear Holy Spirit,
Help us to stand on the truth of the gospel. We go deeper in the experiences of truth that is older than languages. This truth about the gospel shall never stop vibrating in our innermost being, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.