Moment of Meditation: Fight the Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:11-12)

But you, man of God, must flee from all these things.
Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness,
love, endurance, and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith.
Keep holding on to eternal life,
to which you were called
and about which you gave a good testimony in front of many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:11-12 ISV)

Fight the Good Fight

Every Christian is a warrior. But not every Christian warrior has the same function. As we "fight the good fight of faith", we must have the proper equipment in order to fight effectively. Paul lists these things for Timothy: righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance and gentleness. These are all internal things. They aren't great weapons of war. They are disciplines which help us to better manage the battle we face every day.

How do we pursue these great internal disciplines? We get into the proper fighting stance. Not with our fists raised ready to strike. Down on our knees. Hands folded. Head bowed. The warriors who have all the proper equipment are prayer warriors. Not those out on the frontlines of the battle. Those behind the lines, praying for God to strengthen those warriors. To bring about these disciplines and virtues in themselves and in those around them.

Some of the strongest Christian warriors I've known have been prayer warriors. They might not have been the most knowledgeable of the Scriptures. They might not have been the most eloquent speakers. But they understood their need to be in prayer with their heavenly Father. The heavenly Father who has already won the war through Jesus' victory over sin, death and the devil on the cross of Calvary. They might not have known it all, but they knew what was important: We might lose the battle today, but we have won the war through Jesus Christ. Amen.