12 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.
DAILY READING Luke 11:29-54; Genesis 20; Psalm 13
WHEN TWO boxers are in the ring, sometimes something happens which the audience many times do not see. Often as they war with their fists, they also war with words. A boxer may say something demeaning or provocative, just to get the other boxer to be angered and lose his coordination, thereby opening up his defenses for a knock out. To win a fight, a boxer must keep his mind focused on winning and shut out every distraction. No matter what he hears or sees, he must maintain his focus. A boxer who gives in to his emotions, will lose his coordination, and it’s a matter of time before he loses his fight.
Paul said I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…
Paul kept the faith, because he kept his focus. He said in Philippians 3:14 ‘but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’.
As Paul fought the good fight of faith, he kept his focus. He had his gaze locked on his high calling, and nothing could move him from his purpose. He said in Acts 20:24, ‘but none of these things move me’. A man who will not be moved will soon see his mountains move; it is only a matter of time. You have to learn to cut down distractions and focus on God’s word.
Paul was steadfast, refusing to be distracted by the many persecutions. He realized that as a soldier of Christ, he could not be entangled with the affairs of this life, he could not dissipate spiritual energy on mundane things; he kept his gaze on finishing his course and on arriving at his preordained victory because that is all that matters in the end.
To have victory, you must maintain your focus. The world is full of distractions; so many things calling your name, seeking your attention, trying to shift your focus, trying to derail you from your course. Thus, you must let your focus always be on the Word. Be controlled by the Word. Keep filling your heart continually with the Word, until your actions are dominated and controlled only by what God says. When your heart is full of the Word of God, there will be no room for frivolities. Like Jesus, you will say, ‘My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, [John 4:34]. Your primary concern will be only to please God. When that happens, then you can be sure of victory, because God Himself will arise and fight for you.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to fight the good fight of faith, help me remove distractions and focus only on your Word always.
When we fight by God’s help we are sure of victory.
Quote
Whatever doesn’t kill you will eventually end up strengthening you. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]