I Have Fought the Good Fight

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I Have Fought the Good Fight

How will we feel at the end  of our lives?     Will we have all sorts of regrets  and moan,  “I should have done this…….      I wish I would never have done that!…..     Whatever influenced me  to do that?…..     I didn’t have to be so cowardly and weak…..”

Paul didn’t need  to regret things  at the end of his life  as he sat in prison  awaiting execution.     He wanted  to encourage young Timothy  to face the truth  as he had,  so in 2 Timothy 4:7,  Paul wrote,

I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the course,  I have kept the faith;  in the future  there is laid up for me  the crown of righteousness,  which the Lord,  the righteous Judge,  will award to me  on that day;  and not only to me,  but also to all  who have loved His appearing. 

Paul  “fought the good fight”  by unflinchingly preaching the truth only;  enduring beatings,  imprisonments   and stonings;  going through all sorts of hardships;  and giving thanks  in every situation  because he trusted  in God’s love and salvation.

When we know the truth  about God’s grace and forgiveness,  we should stand up for it  like a good soldier.     Even when Paul suffered  from some physical problem  and prayed for relief,  he humbly and gladly accepted God’s refusal  to remove that problem,  when God said  in 2 Corinthians 12:9,

My grace is sufficient  for you,  for power is perfected  in weakness.

It is God who upholds us  as we face this life’s battles.     We cannot depend  on our own strength.     But, when we admit our weaknesses  and God’s loving ability  to help us  through this life,  then His grace  will make us strong  to face whatever trials  are our lot.     If we try  to depend  on our own strength,  our failures  will take away all the joy  we could have had  in Christ.

That is why Paul wrote  in 2 Timothy 2:3,

Suffer hardship with me,  as a good soldier  of Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ endured all sorts of mockings,  lies,  tortures  and crucifixion — just to win the battle  for our souls.     He won.     And,  His victory of righteousness is ours  when we stand strong  in the true faith,  “as a good soldier  of Christ Jesus.”

God is righteous  and we can be sure  that He will give us  that  “crown of righteousness”  on Judgment Day — just because we kept the true faith  and  “fought the good fight.”     Knowing the joy and righteousness we have  in Christ Jesus,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You are our righteousness,  our joy,  our strength,  our song.     May our lives glorify  Your power and love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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