24
Just Another Day
Justin Smith1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
There’s something about the routine of life that can lull us into godless apathy and indifference. This apathy convinces us that today is just another ordinary day with the same responsibilities, the same struggles, and the same issues that we have always dealt with. It’s the same traffic, the same office, and the same staff meeting with the same people, and before we realize it, a “ho-hum” spirit has lulled us into a false sense of complacency. The danger of this “ho-hum” spirit is that we let our guard down, ease up on our defenses and become vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy, setting ourselves up for sure failure.
1 Timothy 6:12 gave me a sobering slap in the face this morning. Paul exhorts his young disciple to guard himself from this “ho-hum” spirit. Maybe he had been lulled into apathy by the monotony of life, maybe he was exhausted and ready to throw in the towel, or maybe he had already gone a few rounds against the enemy and had received a beating that brought him to his knees. Whatever the case was, Paul was there in his corner reminding him, no commanding him, to fight. He calls Timothy to aggressive action, to fight and keep fighting and to hold tightly to his calling, as to not let the enemy find victory.
This morning I receive this exhortation. Fight and keep fighting! It is not just another day; rather, it is a day to make a difference for His glory. It's a day to change the world. Complacency is enemy number one, and exhaustion and apathy are its greatest weapons. After a long run of seemingly ceaseless ministry, I must remain ever vigilant and dependent on Him. I must hold tightly to God, I must rejoice…find joy again…in my calling, in my life, and in the abundant treasures and blessings He bestows. Breathe deep but keep fighting, take moments to rest but don’t let your guard down, and remember your first love. It’s in these that His joy will truly by my strength, and this day will be redeemed for Him.
Lord Jesus, thank you for this gracious reminder. You have blessed me abundantly, and I will choose to live out my gratitude in obedience and worship to You. I will gladly fight against the enemy and stand strong against apathy and indifference. I will choose to hold tightly to my calling that I might please you today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
