The Ultimate Fight Champ is Our Coach
Fight the good fight of the faith. 1 Timothy 6:12
This is the way of life, a good fight. Not one a life of ease and comfort, but of perseverance and endurance. There is a specialness in fighting the same battles that Jesus fought. Unlike Jesus, we are headed into the fight of our lives as imperfect people.
The two options we have is to try harder, or totally depend on the Holy Spirit to create in us the capability to stand strong. I think of the good fight of faith as boxing. I think of the Spirit of God, the ultimate fight champ, as our coach. The coach who tells us when to to jab, duck, weave, or swing, or go to the corner and rest.
Obeying God's will for us to Sabbath opens the door for longevity in ministry. He has set guards on the work, boundaries to stay within our limits. The boundaries, like a weekly break, give room for recovery after being part of the good fight. In rest, we realize what we are doing is not about us, but about Jesus.
This scripture in 1 Timothy does not lend itself to rest, however, we read another passage in this letter from Paul that says, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" (ESV, 2016, 1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Praying for the leaders in government for the purpose of living a quiet life. Not to have our way, not to work harder at generating wealth, but to live quiet, peaceful lives.
Christians already having won the fight, but why is there so much fear? Jesus' example is one of going on the offensive. He did not fight in the same way we understand, but walked away when people tried to kill him or king him outside of God's timing.
In my study on leadership, I've been convicted lately of looking at the giant obstacles I am up against, rather than the One who already won the battle. Joshua and Caleb were ready to go into the Promised Land, but the other men with them were scared. Nearly four hundred years later, a similar fear in the Israelites would send them hiding every time the Philistine champion, Goliath, came onto the field to fight.
Too many people are living lazy, undisciplined lives, allowing the enemy to continue to harass their loved ones, their friends, and themselves. We ought to study the examples of those who ran at the enemy, rather than away and see where they placed their confidence. It would preach!
photo by Sabel Blanco on Pexels.com
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