Dec 31 Compete for the faith

1 Tim 6:12, Compete~~ well for the faith and lay hold*~ of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

A battle is raging for the minds and souls of men, even though most believers are unaware of it. The language of the text comes from an athletic competition. In 1 Timothy 1:18, Paul alludes to a military term meaning to “wage the good warfare” to communicate the life–and–death struggle for the salvation of the lost.

This is not to suggest that one has to work extra hard to be saved; rather, it means that believers must compete against all sorts of evil and falsehoods to win the lost to eternal life. The word compete means to “contend for victory in the public games, fighting or wrestling.”

Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). It means to “take pains, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal,” as in Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”

The word well in our translation, or good in others, is from a word meaning “beautiful, excellent, or noble.” The author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1).

The first verb in our text is in the present tense, meaning to “be continually competing for the faith,” but the second verb is an aorist imperative, meaning to once and for all time “lay hold of that eternal life you were called for.” Timothy did not need salvation, but he was to “get a grip” on the reality of eternal life and hell, to live his life from the perspective of eternity.

The same idea is in Colossians 3:2: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Our real nationality now is in heaven: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).

All the verbs are aorist except the first. Once and for all the reader is to “lay hold on eternal life.” Once and for all “you were also called,” and once and for all you “made your good confession.” These are not repeated experiences but one–time events that put every believer into the competition (2 Tim 1:6). Knowing He has a purpose for our lives, we enter the public competition knowing He is with us always. Are you in the battle for the souls of men?

“Lord, it has been a good year. I recommit to living to spread the gospel and to build up Your followers. I will never turn back or abandon Your purpose for my life. May people matter to me this new year as they matter to You.”

 

Related Post

Feb 26 Live in peace

2 Cor 13:11d, “…. live in peace~~, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Whenever a group of sinners gather together, arguments and disharmony are a natural result. However, when the group is empowered by the Spirit and mutually committed to obeying the...

Feb 25 Agree with one another

2 Cor 13:11c, “… agree with one another [be of one mind] ~~“ The appeal for unity is frequent in Paul’s writings, especially with such diverse congregations of slaves and the poor and Gentiles and Jews: “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on...

Jan 3 Do not be too ambitious

James 3:1—-“Not many of you should become~| teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.”  According to Scripture, the first requirement to become a bishop, elder, or pastor is not a sense of a special call, but a...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This