Fight to Keep Our Faith

“We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

I love this reminder that our Christian life is not easy. When you accept Christ, you enter a battle, a war. If you are not feeling like you are in a fight, then it may be a good time to examine your life. Think about this verse,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you look like and act like the world around you, then the devil is not messing with you. There is no battle to fight. This is not good!

For example, the world does not wake up and pray without ceasing. The world does not read the Bible. The world does not get involved a community of believers. The world has no problem with living together before marriage. That just becomes a personal preference, not a veering away from a biblical truth. The world has no problem with being jealous or greedy or selfish.

When I read that verse this morning, I was reminded that I am in a battle. Instead of resenting the battle and feeling like I am losing the battle so often, I think I will draw strength from the commander of the army.

“So Christ can save those who come to God through him. Christ can do this forever, because he always lives and is ready to help people when they come before God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:25‬ ‭ERV‬‬

What a great promise to take hold of! Jesus lives to intercede and help us.

Get back in the race

“When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.” Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Some time later...

“Simon Peter said, “I am going out to fish.” The other followers said, “We will go with you.” So all of them went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭21:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog about the passage in Luke, chapter 5. I was about to go to Germany on a mission trip. I was encouraged by the promise that God is not dependent on my "fishing" talents. He proved that to be true when we saw so many teens come to know the Lord. He was not dependent on us but His power. We were only there to "throw out the nets." He brought in the fish.

But notice what happened next in the story about Peter. After becoming a follower of Jesus, he denied Christ three times. And then he returned to becoming an ordinary fisherman. He returned to his old occupation. Did you realize that Peter was going to let his sin keep him out of the race?

I have been on many youth camps and I have seen youths give their life to Christ. And within a short period of time, they return to their former "occupation." They forget that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in them.

I contend that each and every one of us has been called to be a fisher of men. Go back to the first time when you felt God speak to your heart. Remember the moment that you gave your life to Jesus and made him Savior and Lord. You have not been knocked out of the race. You have not been thrown away when you messed up really bad. You have not been set back by a returning to an old addiction. You do not return back to your former life. God made us a new creation, with a new heart.

I am so glad that He is not like us with limited mercy and strength. He is a God of infinite grace and mercy and forgiveness. The next page in the story of Peter was a life of explosive power. He brought men to a saving knowledge of Christ by the 1000's. He healed the sick in Jesus name. He willing endured being thrown into jail and beaten. He stood before the Jewish High Council and spoke with boldness and wisdom.

Get back up and start living the life He called you to live. God still has big plans for you.