Fighting the Good Fight
The Lord has asked founder Lisa Burkhardt Worley to be still and sit at his feet for a while (Psalm 46:10). So because of this, Pearls of Promise will be re-running some of its most popular devotions from the Pearls archives. Today’s devotion was last published on October 26, 2013.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
Every region has a sport they embrace in addition to the big three: football, baseball and basketball. When I worked in San Antonio as a sportscaster, boxing was extremely popular. I covered numerous fights in the Alamo City and even followed one of the San Antonio fighters to a world title bout in Las Vegas.
While I hate to admit it, there was something about boxing that drew me in. Man against man, both fighters in survival mode, trying to endure and avoid the blows that came at them so they would be left standing at the end of twelve rounds.
Boxing is a lot like life. That’s why Paul encouraged Timothy to fight the good fight of the faith. He knew the world would throw some faith threatening punches at him, enough to knock him out of his spiritual bout before the final bell sounded.
Do you sometimes feel like you are too beaten up to finish the fight?
Timothy’s cornerman, Paul, gives his young protégé some pointers on how to perservere. He told him to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. That is how you fight the good fight. No matter what life tosses at you, you are OK if you pursue these attributes. According to the Quest Study Bible, we should “aim for the best and work to achieve it.”
However, what Paul says next is what I believe we as believers must all cling to when life knocks us down. Paul tells Timothy to Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12b) No matter what, eternal life is what we have to look forward to after this journey. It is an amazing prize God gives us. It should be enough to keep us fighting for righteousness.
The good news is we are not in the ring alone. God provides the strength we need to fight our battles:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
The Lord is my strength and my shield … (Psalm 28:7)
In the day when I called out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:3)
O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. (Psalm 68:35)
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isaiah 40:29)
What battle are you facing today? The Lord wants you to have victory and He will help you to fight the good fight. Just call upon His name and He will answer the bell.