The good fight begins with the courage to obey God when obedience costs you something. Joshua needed that courage to lead Israel forward, and Paul called Timothy to exercise it in the spiritual warfare of the Christian life. There will be opposition to the truth, temptation to compromise, and days when the weariness of serving makes quitting seem attractive. Those are the very circumstances in which faithfulness matters. The Lord has given us His word, entrusted us with the gospel, and commanded us to stand. Every believer needs to take that charge personally.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (KJB)

Fighting that good fight requires both sound doctrine and a good conscience. The truth we preach must govern the life we live. Paul warns about making shipwreck, commands us to put on the whole armour of God, and identifies the word of God as the sword of the Spirit. We need that Book open, our hearts responsive to its correction, and our prayer lives active. False teaching must be answered, temptation must be resisted, and thoughts that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God must be brought into obedience to Christ. This warfare reaches into our homes, our churches, our preaching, and the private decisions nobody else sees. God supplies the power to stand. Near the end of his life, Paul could look back and testify that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. Then he looked ahead to the righteous Judge who would reward his service. That ought to put fresh determination into every weary Christian who still has work to do. The Lord knows what faithfulness has cost you. He sees the quiet obedience, the continued labour, and the decision to keep going when you feel spent. Keep serving with His appearing in view. Paul’s expectation reaches beyond his own testimony to every believer who loves the Lord’s appearing.

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Geoffrey Grider. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Geoffrey Grider och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.