Lover or Fighter?

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)

I remember Michael Jackson telling Paul McCartney in song, “The girl is mine,” that he was a lover not a fighter. How about you? Are you a lover or a fighter? Well, it should come as no surprise that as followers of Christ we should be both.

We must be lovers of God, neighbour and nature. We have to fight for truth, justice and that God’s will be reflected on earth as it is demonstrated in heaven. Each of us are lovers of the things of God. By contrast we fight against evil in it’s many obvious and insidious guises on a daily basis.

William Booth who founded the Salvation Army 150 years ago said in his last speech:
“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight
While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight
While there is a drunkard left, While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
While there remains one dark soul without the light of God,
I’ll fight-I’ll fight to the very end!”

The love of God inspired him to follow the example of Jesus. So motivated by the Holy Spirit he fought as we do today. He emphasised “soup, soap and salvation.” The needs of humanity as a whole, our community and neighbour, has not changed, nor has the obligation of the Christian community and me, as an individual, to love and to fight. We do this by seeing the needs around us and finding ways to address them, while living and sharing the gospel (See Matthew 25:31-46).

Use the mighty sword of God (God’s Word-Ephesians 6:17 )to defend the needy and to fight to vanquish evil. So today be a lover and a fighter.

Prayer
Thank you, Father, that you give us the love and strength to fight. Help us not grow weary but allow love to energise us in the battles of life. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen

Study by David Gibbs

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About the Author:
David Gibbs in an Elder and on the Pastoral Council in the Birmingham Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Birmingham
All Saints Church
George Road
BIRMINGHAM
B23 7QB

Meeting Time:
Saturday 1:00pm

Local Congregational Contact:
David Gibbs
Phone: 0777-7667635
Email: david_gibbs@wcg.org.uk