Anchor Devotional

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The Good Fight

“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction … so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19a

Paul speaks in military terms here to describe Timothy’s call to ministry. He was called into battle by Paul, charged to “fight the good fight.” It seems that God at some point prophetically revealed this mission concerning Timothy and urged him to hold “on to faith and a good conscience.” Both are needed for the conflict that would await him. Without these essentials, his faith would be “shipwrecked.”

Some battles are not worth fighting, but there is a war that is worth every drop of blood and every ounce of our strength. When God calls us to Himself, He summons us to stand and fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil—for the glory of God and the spread of the gospel.

We fight not with malice, but with love. We fight not with earthly weapons, but with God’s Word and prayer, receptive to the Spirit’s work in us. Like Paul’s charge to Timothy, we too are called to rest in our relationship with Jesus through faith. Though the battle rages on, we know the outcome, and we know the One who has conquered for all eternity: Jesus!

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
1 Timothy 1:18-20

INSIGHT
Father, as we engage in the spiritual battle for Your kingdom, protect us from the evil one. Help us to fight the good fight of faith. Amen

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Samuel 15-16
Psalm 127
2 Corinthians 8

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