Today’s YouVersion verse 1Tim 6:11 CJB But you, as a man of God, flee from these things; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.
Several years ago, a man in Manila referenced fighting the good fight from 2Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. …on his suicidal note just before he killed himself. There was a disconnect. On another wrong application, sometimes people think “fight the good fight” means not to give up a fight no matter what the cause nor the means.
In 1Timothy Chapter 6, the apostle Paul gave Timothy the biblical context of fighting the good fight. The words “But you, man of God” tells us that whatever is the usual standard for the world to do does not apply to the man of God. Going back to the previous verses reveals the things the people of God are to stay away from: false teachings, love of money, conceit, unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words, envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions.
Here are the things the people of God are instead called to pursue, even though the world culture may think they are boring, corny, or annoying:
From 1Tim 6:11… righteousness [moral uprightness], godliness [conforming to the wishes of God], faithfulness [loyalty], love [1Cor13], steadfastness [unswervingly firm in godly purpose], gentleness [considerate or kindly in disposition].
1Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.
We are called to fight the good fight of faith continually, not giving up nor letting it go. Fighting to keep one’s faith in the face of opposition, discouragement, circumstances beyond one’s control takes the right weapons and strategy that God prescribes in His Word.
Previous posts on Spiritual Warfare:
http://butterflyinthespring.com/2013/03/19/know-your-enemy/ http://butterflyinthespring.com/2013/03/21/war-strategy/
Today’s Love Letter from Sheri Rose Shepherd’s http://www.hisprincess.com echoes the verse on fighting the good fight.
http://hisprincess.com/2013/06/dress-for-battle/
Dear Lord,
Please help us fight the good fight of faith and finish strongly until You return or our time here is up. Help us to shun the things You shun and pursue the things that please You in Jesus’s name Amen.
Filed under: Uncategorized
