Bible League: Living His Word I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.The Apostle Paul's words to Timothy were spoken near the end of his ministry. He was in prison and he was expecting to die soon. He wrote, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come" (II Timothy 4:6). Many of his associates had deserted him, probably for fear of ending up in prison like him. Onesiphorus and Luke were among the few who remained with him. Paul summed everything up in three statements. First, "I have fought the good fight." Paul used a metaphor derived from military battle to describe his life and ministry. It had been a fight. One is reminded of his teaching on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18. Our fight or struggle is not against human beings, but "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Thus, his fight was not just any fight; it was the "good" fight. It was good because he fought for the Lord Jesus Christ against the hosts of hell. Second, "I have finished the race." This time, Paul used a metaphor derived from athletic games to describe his life and ministry. It had been a race. One is reminded of Acts 20:24 where Paul referred to his desire to finish "my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." His life and ministry had been a race on a course around the known world. He had fought the good fight in every place that he had visited in his missionary journeys. Finally, "I have kept the faith." With this statement Paul stopped using metaphors to describe his life and ministry. During the good fight he fought in the race on a course around the world, he had remained faithful to Jesus Christ and the ministry he had been given. His fight was over, his race was finished, he had kept the faith, and it was now up to Timothy to follow his example. Timothy kept Paul's letter, obviously, and Paul's message to him has now become a message to all of us. Hence, let us also follow Paul's example. Let us fight the good fight, and finish the race, and keep the faith. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 14, 15, 16 1 Chronicles 14 -- David's Family Grows, Defeat of the Philistines NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 15 -- The Ark Brought to Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 16 -- A Tent for the Ark; David's Psalm of Thanks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 9:24-41 John 9 -- Jesus Heals a Blind Man; Pharisees Question His Authority; Jesus Affirms He Is the Son of God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For I know the vast number of your sinsand the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Insight Why does God put so much emphasis on the way we treat the poor and needy? How we treat the rich, or those of equal standing, often reflects what we hope to get from them. But because the poor can give us nothing, how we treat them reflects our true character. Challenge Do we, like Christ, give without thought of gain? We should treat the poor as we would like God to treat us. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 24:33,35 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem ... and they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them.When the two disciples had reached Emmaus, and were refreshing themselves at the evening meal, the mysterious stranger who had so enchanted them upon the road, took bread and brake it, made himself known to them, and then vanished out of their sight. They had constrained him to abide with them, because the day was far spent; but now, although it was much later, their love was a lamp to their feet, yea, wings also; they forgot the darkness, their weariness was all gone, and forthwith they journeyed back the threescore furlongs to tell the gladsome news of a risen Lord, who had appeared to them by the way. They reached the Christians in Jerusalem, and were received by a burst of joyful news before they could tell their own tale. These early Christians were all on fire to speak of Christ's resurrection, and to proclaim what they knew of the Lord; they made common property of their experiences. This evening let their example impress us deeply. We too must bear our witness concerning Jesus. John's account of the sepulchre needed to be supplemented by Peter; and Mary could speak of something further still; combined, we have a full testimony from which nothing can be spared. We have each of us peculiar gifts and special manifestations; but the one object God has in view is the perfecting of the whole body of Christ. We must, therefore, bring our spiritual possessions and lay them at the apostle's feet, and make distribution unto all of what God has given to us. Keep back no part of the precious truth, but speak what you know, and testify what you have seen. Let not the toil or darkness, or possible unbelief of your friends, weigh one moment in the scale. Up, and be marching to the place of duty, and there tell what great things God has shown to your soul. Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:Jeremiah 17:9,10 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? • "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. Psalm 90:8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence. Luke 22:61,62 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." • And he went out and wept bitterly. John 2:24,25 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, • and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. Psalm 103:14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." John 10:14,27,28 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, • "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; • and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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