Fearlessly Courageous

Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
7/16/2021

3 Non-Negotiable Principles

3 Non-Negotiable Principles

Psalm 119:105-112
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life, LORD, according to your word.
108 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Can we define two words?
Principle: a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. i.e.: "the basic principles of Christianity"

Negotiable: open to discussion or modification. Ie: "the price was not negotiable"
Would you consider with me – 3 Non-Negotiable Principles.
I will always follow Jesus. Matt 16:26
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt 16:26

This passage is often incorrectly applied to the unbeliever, but Jesus was speaking to his disciples and pointing out the two ways that a believer can follow – the carnal way is the way of the world where a believer lives for themselves, not understanding that the life we live on earth will dictate our future role in heaven. If our life-work is carried out in the flesh, it will be burned up like hay and stubble, which means that the life that we lived in the flesh will be lost – we will have nothing to show for the life that we lived, if we live for ourselves. If our life-work is carried out in the spirit – though tried in the fire, it will come out as gold and silver. But when we negotiate with Satan we become a servant to his deception of pleasure only to discover we become a slave to it.
Don’t you know that repentance is better than worldly pleasures? They are nothing but counterfeit of God’s blessings.
I will always protect and lead my family.
Deut 6:6-7 “ 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

You see, if we love God with all we are, if we treasure His Law in our heart, it’s impossible to keep it in. A life loving God and treasuring His Law is a life marked by overflow.
What does evangelism look like? Overflow. What does the Christian community look like? Overflow. What does good parenting look like? Overflow. You can’t contain it. If you imagine a child with a gallon container trying to pour the milk in a small cup…although he tries he cannot control the rush of it…the volume of it…it overflows. Just like we are supposed to … to our spouses, children, grandchildren, neighbors… The overflow of love from our hearts. We teach God’s commands – perhaps when disciplining our kids, perhaps when we are rejoicing in a blessing, or processing our grief. His truths that are not taught are lost. Those principles if not discussed in the family can never make it out the front door. We talk about the negative influence of the world, its commercials, and non-standards on us all, but neglect to obey God’s word and impress it on everyone in the home. And so in doing nothing we take on the principles of the world and we have clearly negotiated God’s truth to those we love the most. What is not for sale? What is really nonnegotiable?
Until we can see the truth… we cannot own it!
I will be merciful to people.
James 2:12 -13 “12 So speak and now act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” People matter to God… not the issues that drive us away from him.”

As Christians, we have been saved by grace, the free gift open to all. We are not saved by the good deeds we do, by how well we conduct ourselves, whether we are kind to our neighbors. The only thing that qualifies us for heaven is the fact that we have received Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior.

Just because we have done so, because we are saved, does not excuse us from obeying God. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of obedience. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. So no matter what the treatment we receive, we should try always to behave as Jesus would, to show others the love of Christ, show his mercy and forgiveness.

Our efforts should not be in judging someone else and whether or not they are keeping the law. We should be looking inwardly to determine whether or not we are doing what is required—not only in the letter of the law but especially in its spirit. And the greatest of these is Love!

Can you see this is another non-negotiable to a follower of Christ? We were saved by mercy and grace, can we live any life at all and negotiate that away… for what?
Are these 3 truly Non-Negotiable to you by the way you live? You decide.

Graves Into Gardens (Lyrics) – Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTvv-9zosPs