Fight the Good Fight

DAILY READING

Psalm 93
1 Timothy 6:11-12

Fight the good fight. Take hold of eternal life.  These are big visions, big messages, big commands.  The words sound heroic, honor filled, lofty, magnificent, glorious, holy!  Realistically however, these phrases are a call to Obedience with a capital ‘O’.  And that may not mean what you think AND it might be more challenging than you imagine!

In Why is Obedience to God Important? Mary Fairchild of the Thought Company offers several definitions/understandings of the obedience. 

• “The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testament relates to hearing or hearkening to a higher authority.
• One of the Greek terms for obedience conveys the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command. Another Greek word for obey in the New Testament means “to trust.”
• According to Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a succinct definition of biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.”
• Eerdmans’s Bible Dictionary says, “True ‘hearing,’ or obedience, involves the physical hearing that inspires the hearer, and a belief or trust that in turn motivates the hearer to act in accordance with the speaker’s desires.”

So, biblical obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God and his Word.”

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• What is ‘the good fight’? What is your particular good fight?
• How do ‘fighting the good fight’ and listening to and trusting God come together for you? 
• Where does ‘taking hold of eternal life’ play a part in your daily life?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Find other words or phrases for ‘fight’, like struggle, wrestle or maybe ‘being formed’.  
• How do you ‘fight’ for right without physical weapons?

PRAYER GUIDE

Holy God, enliven my head, my heart, my hearing so that I can know your desires and commands.  Like Jesus, I want to stand before the Pilates of this world as one of your own.  Where I falter, raise me up again to do your bidding.  In Christ’s name, Amen. 

WRITE FOR THE FIELD GUIDE

Are you inspired by the Daily Field Guide devotions each week? You can inspire others in the congregation with your reflections on God’s word by becoming a Field Guide author! Contact Jason Alteri at jalteri@bumc.net to learn more.