“Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” — 1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB)
Avoiding Shipwreck – Get Ready For A Fight
In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul warned his young disciple about the potential shipwreck of his faith, telling him to flee captivating sin and pursue the things of God. Then he added, “Fight the fight of faith.”
The New Testament writers describe the Christian life using athletic terms (boxing, wrestling, running) and warfare terms (spiritual forces, weapons of our warfare, sword of the Spirit, shield of faith). Both of these depict a fight or struggle in order to win.
“Fight” is a word used from the ancient Greek athletic games. It refers to continuous action, not occasional skirmishes. A fight in Paul’s day was serious business. The gloves of a Greek boxer were fur-lined on the inside, but the outside was oxhide with sharp pieces of lead and iron sewn into it. In wrestling matches, the loser had his eyes gouged out.
If you are committed to fleeing the captivating desires of your life and pursuing the things of God, you are in for a fight. You will be moving in the opposite direction of your culture, your desires and often your own friends.
The Christian life is lived in the context of resistance. We were never promised effortless progress. The fight is a turf war over who calls the shots in your life: Satan, the world, your own desires or Jesus. If you follow Jesus, expect a battle to hold your course.
– Tom Petersburg
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