Creator, Father, King #315

Fight the good fight of the faith.

AS THE APOSTLE PAUL finished his first letter to Timothy, he gave his good friend some calls to action. One of them is found in today’s verse.

At the time, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus, and Paul wanted to encourage him to remain steadfast in his work. But that short sentence is much more than a throwaway line such as, “Keep it up!” It’s a thoughtful, purposefully worded reminder about the realities of the Christian life.

Put it this way: there’s a reason Paul didn’t write any of the following:

• Enjoy the sun-splashed picnic of the faith.
• Sail the relaxing pleasure cruise of the faith.
• Soak in the breezy Caribbean vacation of the faith.
• Laugh away the carefree amusement park day of the faith.
• Gobble up the delicious hot fudge sundae of the faith.

See the difference?

What’s It Mean?

There is nothing wrong with delighting in those pleasures at their proper times. God has given us many blessings to enjoy in this world.

The point is, the Christian life is often a struggle. If you are a follower of Christ, you will face challenges and difficulties because of your faith. Jesus himself said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

This doesn’t mean every day is going to be hard. Remember: being a child of God brings spiritual joy, peace, and contentment that are impossible to find anywhere else in life! But we must realize that the Christian life is a life of trials.

This fight is largely a spiritual battle. Here are some of the sources:

• spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:11-12)
• human opposition (John 15:18-20)
• worldly temptations (1 John 2:15-17)
• indwelling sin (Romans 7:7-25)

Also remember: believers have great purpose. As God’s ambassadors, we aren’t called to kick back and take it easy with vain, self-centered pursuits. No! Before he ascended, our Savior gave us a mission: to reach the lost with his saving gospel. Some will accept this message. Many will reject it. Still, we must fight on!

So never give up. Always keep pushing forward in your faith, powered by God’s Spirit inside you. Then one day, like an athlete who fights through the challenges of a long race, you’ll receive the victor’s crown of blessings in the Lord’s presence forever!

Now What?

Meditate on the scriptural references listed above to prepare for the spiritual battles you’ll face in life.

Did You Know?

Paul used the same language about “fighting the good fight” near the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:7-8.