Flee, Follow, and Fight
The world in which we live is full of things that want our attention. They tell us to "log on" to this web site, "don't miss" this TV show, and follow our favorite sports teams. Some of these things aren't too bad to follow, but it is impossible to follow everything. Some things are completely opposed to each other. For instance, it would be hard to be an Ohio State fan and be rooting for the University of Michigan all season long, especially when those two teams were playing each other.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 gives us a little guidance regarding what we should follow. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 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."
First, to be a man (or woman) of God, we must flee certain things. Those "things" are found in the previous verses: the love of money (v. 10). A Christian's life is characterized by contentment with what God has given him, not a greedy coveteousness. This kind of attitude and thinking must be avoided; we must flee from it.
Second, with the same effort that we are fleeing from greed and the love of money, we should be pursuing these godly character traits: righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. If you were out in the woods at night and something or someone jumped out of the bushes, you would probably flee from that thing and run to your house or the nearest light or place of safety. We must avoid at all costs ungodliness, and in its place, we should pursue Christlikeness. This list is very similar to the manifestation of a life that is obedient to God's Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
These character traits are what we to achieve in our lives; it doesn't matter how much money we can get. We want to do what is right, demonstrating our relationship with God, consistent and faithful in our walk, loving and selfless toward others, continuing with endurance and not giving up, and living in a gentle and kind way toward others.
Third, this life is not going to come easy: we must fight the good fight of faith. Maintaining our Christian walk and testimony will not be a walk in the park. Rather, it will be a battle, an intense war that may cost us dearly. But the prize is worth it: eternal life must be seized. This is the life to which God has called us. This is the fight we have pledged ourselves when we turned to God from our sin. We must flee, follow, and fight.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 gives us a little guidance regarding what we should follow. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 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."
First, to be a man (or woman) of God, we must flee certain things. Those "things" are found in the previous verses: the love of money (v. 10). A Christian's life is characterized by contentment with what God has given him, not a greedy coveteousness. This kind of attitude and thinking must be avoided; we must flee from it.
Second, with the same effort that we are fleeing from greed and the love of money, we should be pursuing these godly character traits: righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. If you were out in the woods at night and something or someone jumped out of the bushes, you would probably flee from that thing and run to your house or the nearest light or place of safety. We must avoid at all costs ungodliness, and in its place, we should pursue Christlikeness. This list is very similar to the manifestation of a life that is obedient to God's Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
These character traits are what we to achieve in our lives; it doesn't matter how much money we can get. We want to do what is right, demonstrating our relationship with God, consistent and faithful in our walk, loving and selfless toward others, continuing with endurance and not giving up, and living in a gentle and kind way toward others.
Third, this life is not going to come easy: we must fight the good fight of faith. Maintaining our Christian walk and testimony will not be a walk in the park. Rather, it will be a battle, an intense war that may cost us dearly. But the prize is worth it: eternal life must be seized. This is the life to which God has called us. This is the fight we have pledged ourselves when we turned to God from our sin. We must flee, follow, and fight.
posted by Mark Perry at 7:00 PM
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