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1 Timothy 6:11-12 - Fight the Good Fight of Faith.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NLT) But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

INTRODUCTION

Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: run, pursue, fight, hold tightly. Some think Christianity is passive, advocating that we have to wait for God to act. On the contrary, we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know God wants. Is it time for action on your part? Christian service, like athletics, requires training and sacrifice. Our discipline and obedience largely define whether we will be contributors or merely spectators. How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ's team? [Life Application SB 2019]

COMMENTARY PEARL

Eternity in Their Hearts
   An Amazing Fact: Our bodies run on a complex internal clock that affects more than just waking and sleeping. Almost every bodily function works according to this circadian rhythm. For example, certain medications are more effective at certain times of day: aspirin and antihistamines are best in the morning, while some chemotherapy might be best at night.
   But humans aren't the only life form with an internal clock; animals, plants, and even fungi have them too! For instance, the only time flies come out of their pupae is the early morning. Some plants will continue to move as if tracking the sun even in a dark room. Animals' heartbeats, body temperatures, and hormonal changes have a daily rhythm as well.
   It seems Solomon's observation in Ecclesiastes is just as true for the animal kingdom as it is for humanity: "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). In this poetic passage, Solomon describes a cycle of life that is inescapable. The harvest can't come before planting, a new building can only be erected after the old one has been torn down, and, of course, each individual has both a "time to be born, And a time to die" (v. 2). All God's creation is orderly and logical - everything is "appropriate in its time" (v. 11 NASB).
   Nevertheless, God has given humanity something that supersedes this cycle: "He has put eternity in their hearts" (v. 11). In spite of internal clocks and the inevitability of death, some part of us knows that there is something more out there. We have been created in God's image, and, without being told, something inside us knows that there is more to life than gaining and losing, keeping and throwing away. There is eternity to be won. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts]

COMMENTARY

   This last year has contained some serious surprises and turmoil. Oil and gasoline prices smashed old records both up and down and the federal government agreed to pump trillions of dollars into the financial system just to keep it afloat. Two governors of large states tried to survive major scandals involving prostitution and corruption. One had to resign and another might still have to.
   How are we as Adventist Christians to live differently in this new year? How exactly can we fight the good fight of faith, and press toward the goal, for the prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus? How can we maintain to the last our Christian integrity, and not find ourselves full of half-suppressed muttered complaints against God? If we ever needed a shield from Satan's power, it is in these final days. Live each day as our last day.
   Only through faith in God's Word will we be conquerors through the blood of Christ. His Word must be prayerfully studied and practically applied. We might have accepted Jesus, but the war on planet earth continues. Our battle is lifelong, and must be carried forward with determined energy proportionate to the value of the object we are seeking: eternal life. The good news is that God is faithful. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can take. When we are tempted, God will give us a way out. The Lord loves you, so trust Him now.
   Jesus is really our only hope. We cannot afford to become discouraged and cast away our confidence. We can't get bogged down condemning ourselves or complaining. It is time to appreciate every means of grace. Encourage your soul to believe. In the Lord Jesus we have righteousness and strength. Lean upon Him, and through His power we may quench all the fiery darts of the adversary. The one who endures to the end will be saved, but we must hold onto Jesus until the end. So hold on tight. Pastor Arthur Gibbs 2009

RUN FROM ALL EVIL
   The Bible clearly says what to do with temptation: "Run from all evil things" (1 Timothy 6:11 NLT).
   That's right. When you feel tempted to do something self-defeating or dishonoring to God, you should move out of the situation rapidly.
   What should you not do? Don't argue with temptation. Don't fight it. Why? Because you're going to lose.
   If you're watching something on television that tempts you to lust, change the channel. If you struggle with alcohol, run far away from the bar.
   One specific temptation the Bible tells us to run from in 1 Corinthians 10:14 is the worship of idols.
   "Wait a minute," you might say. "I don't have idols in my house." Let me ask it another way: What person or thing do you idolize? Success? Beauty? A favorite athlete or sport? A certain celebrity? Social media?
   Anything you put before God is an idol. Today few of us have idols that look like stone or wooden figures. Instead, we carry our idols in our wallets, watch them on TV, or park them in our driveways.
   No matter what your idols are and no matter what your temptations are, the strategy is clear: Run away. Don't argue. Don't fight. Run. If you don't want to get stung by the bees, get away from the hive. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]

ILLUSTRATION

The Slippery Slope
   Have you ever watched an insect scurrying around on a pitcher plant? Hundreds of species of pitcher plants belong to a half dozen different families all over the world. All of them have some part of the plant formed into a rain catcher to make a pool of water in which they can trap and drown insects for food. The plants attract insects to the water with lures of nectar and bright markings pointing the way. In its explorations for some tasty morsel, the insect encounters stiff hairs that point downward toward the good stuff. The slope gets steeper, so the insect naturally turns around to go up to higher ground to get a better look at the situation, but it's too late. Loose waxy scales that make for a very slippery footing cover the slope. Trying to scramble uphill on the loose scree simply doesn't work. Imagine yourself trying to climb up a very steep slope with nothing solid to stand on. All you have underfoot are loose waxy plates. And thousands of sharp spears all pointed down slope blocking your way. No wonder the insect suddenly loses its footing and falls into the trap. Before it even stops struggling, other denizens of the dark watery pit start chewing on and burrowing into the insect's body. Plant enzymes begin digesting the plant's victim. Bacteria break down high-energy insect chemicals for use by the plant.
   For an insect the only hope is to flee at once. Exploration is certain doom. The trap of the pitcher plant is that good.
   What is your slippery slope? Is it the love of money that Timothy speaks about? Or is it the lure of prestige, influence, leisure? Timothy's exhortation is to flee, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Take hold of the eternal life to which God calls you.
   Lord, plant my feet on solid ground. Help me stay off the myriad slippery slopes of idolatry that lead to certain destruction. Let me take hold of Your offer of eternal life. [God of Wonders by David Steen]

ONE LINER

When you flee from temptation, be sure you do not leave a forwarding address behind. [unknown]

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY

Luke 9:23 - MORE OF JESUS.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250624-1531.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/