'The Good Fight'

S – 1 Tim 6:12

 

‘Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.’

 

O – Paul’s instruction to Timothy to fight the ‘good fight’ of faith. It seems there are good fights and perhaps not so good fights. It seems there were many controversies and energy diversions going on around Timothy. I see that Paul was saying to Timothy don’t extend energy into areas that aren’t important. There is a good fight and by inference there are bad fights. There are important things to pursue and there are unimportant things to pursue. He urges then the taking hold of Eternal life. I wonder if Timothy had taken his eyes off the main game and allowed some secondary issues to consume his focus and energy.

 

A – This challenges me to ask some important questions of myself. Am I fighting the good fight, or am I being energised into ‘bad fights’ or lesser causes? – Am I in a fighting mode at all? It’s consequential that if I am not in a fighting stance how easily my emphasise, thoughts, activities and energy goes to other places. How easy I find it to get involved in ‘bad fights’ – like issues, controversies and other priorities. I get rebuked at how much personal energy and even validation that I can expend and pursue. Paul’s antidote is the focus I need to grab. Take hold of eternal life. This is an active constant warfare perspective as to what my life is all about. Eternal Life is my rallying focus and perspective. It’s not a concept or an ideal. It seems as I take hold of it, make it the energising motivation, it brings me into the ‘good fight’ mode and action.

 

P – Lord you have called me into the good fight. Forgive me when I let lesser issues and controversies take my energies.