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Isaiah 48:17-18
17 This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
The Lord teaches us what is best.... seek his solutions! Holding to his commandments is the fool proof way to find the best solution. Think back before you were a Christian, how did you solve problems then? The times you resorted to the lie, the "cover-up", the compromise, what was the result?
The solution you choose today as a Christian will either help you get stronger in your faith or hurt your walk with God.
1. Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Be prayerful, not rash or impulsive. Ask God for insight and ask other disciples for insight. It takes faith to ask for help. Who do you ask for help in discerning what is best?
2. Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Compromising on God's will is not an option. Seeking the Kingdom first must guide all your solutions. What compromises are tempting you?
Remember : Excuses for disobeying the word come straight from Satan. How does God feel when we compromise.
3. Proverbs 11:14,19
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
Get other disciples involved in your life. There are many things our eyes fail to see. Other disciples may see solutions you never thought of. How do you feel about seeking help? Who do you seek help from?
4. Isaiah 48:17-18
17 This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Remember God's word teaches us what is best. Don't settle for "okay". Think about Jesus and how he would solve your problem. Think about different situations that come up in a disciple's life. What would you do if your mother comes to visit sunday morning, it is her birthday and all she wants is to spend the day with you. Would you compromise and stay home or tell her you have to go to church but you will come home right after or would you persuade her to come with you so you can spend the day together and help her see the church.
Satan plans different ways constantly to get you to compromise and not come to church, study your Bible, pray, reach out to others. What ways has he been tempting you lately?
5. Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Jesus does not pamper people who do not have enough faith and determination to solve problems righteously. Did he give these men a second chance?
How would Jesus rate your determination for solving problems righteously? Let's not ever compromise.
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