UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on June 5, 2014. He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Fighting!”
1 Timothy 1:18-20
[18] This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, [19] holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, [20] among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
One of the greatest scenes in a sporting event is when the home crowd is cheering for their team to win, as was the case last Sunday when the fans of Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to cheer for their team to a Superbowl victory. The roar of the crowd along with shouts of motivation can uplift a team that might have been struggling earlier in the game. This kind of support and encouragement can often be the greatest difference between winning and losing.
In these few verses, Paul is giving his son in the faith an encouraging cheer to continue to fight the good fight of faith. If you remember from a few days ago, Timothy is facing opposition from people who are preaching a different kind of doctrine, apart from the true Gospel. For Timothy, it must have been discouraging and burdensome to the point where he might have felt like giving up in the ministry.
We must remember that the fundamental nature of Christianity is that it is a warfare in which we are all involved; and there is no exit until the end. The moment you began your Christian life by faith in Jesus Christ, you have entered a lifelong battle. There may be times where we want to give up because of the fierceness of the battle. Living in an unbelieving world with many who are opposed to the Christian faith makes it very difficult. Paul reminds Timothy that he possesses two valuable things which he must carefully guard: faith and a good conscience. Paul is exhorting Timothy that in the midst of the battle, he is to guard his personal integrity and doctrine.
Do you need to be reminded of the the fight we are in, this morning? The battle for our faith can be fierce, especially in the world we live in today. I want to encourage you to fight the good fight of faith. Hold on to the truths about God and his doctrines. Seek encouragement from your community and spiritual mentors. Let’s fight the good fight together.
Prayer: Lord, remind us of the spiritual battle we face each and every day. Help us to hold on to the words of Paul that we also would hold on to our faith and good conscience as we strive to live for You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 48
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Questions to Consider
- “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained the victory on their knees long before the battle came.” – R.A. Torrey What are your thoughts about it when it comes to spiritual battle?
- How can we continually fight the good fight each day?
- What are some personal commitments you can make to continue to fight the battle of faith?
Notes
- The key to fighting the spiritual battle in your life is to be protected with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and to be prayerful.
- We need to fight the good fight by reading and living out the Word. Prayer is also vital in our lives to maintain spiritual vibrancy and holding on to a good conscience.
- Personal response
Evening Reflection
Be encouraged that all of our AMI churches are fighting the good fight together. Let’s continue to do our part in building his church, lifting up prayers and encouraging one another to fight the good fight.