As I write this on my phone, I’m sitting ringside in a gym watching my son train for boxing. The sound of gloves hitting pads, the rhythm of footwork, the sweat earned through repetition. It’s more than exercise. It’s preparation. And as I watch him train, my mind is drawn to Paul’s charge to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Paul’s words are not to be taken lightly. They’re a command which he experienced in his own life.
The Greek word Paul uses for fight carries weight and motion and means:
- To struggle
- To compete for a prize
- To contend with an adversary
- To endeavor to accomplish something
This isn’t a casual stroll of belief. It’s conflict. It’s exertion. It’s purpose.
Paul tells Timothy to fight, and the grammar matters. This is a present imperative, meaning an ongoing campaign, not a single skirmish. Not a one time battle. The Christian life isn’t one big heroic moment; it’s daily resistance, daily resolve, daily obedience.
Watching my son train made that crystal clear.
A boxer cannot fight timidly. Timidity gets you hurt. He must trust his training, his conditioning, and the discipline forged long before the bell rings. When the fight comes, there’s no time to wonder if the preparation was worth it. You either apply it, or you get knocked out.
The same is true for us as believers.
Too many Christians try to live passively, hoping faith will somehow carry them without effort. But Paul doesn’t say watch the good fight. He says fight it. Faith requires holy aggression, not arrogance, not violence, but spiritual resolve. A refusal to quit. A determination to stand.
So, here’s the honest question: Do you still have that fight in you?
Or has life worn you down to the point where you’re questioning God? Or are you quietly considering stepping back?
Paul doesn’t stop with the command to fight. He says, “take hold of the eternal life.” That’s not something reserved for the moment we die. It’s something we grasp now. Eternal life isn’t just future residence, it’s present power.
God has already shared His strength with us. His Spirit is already at work within us. We don’t wait for victory; we actually fight from it (Romans 8:37).
A boxer steps into the ring knowing the cost, trusting the training, and committing fully to the fight. As believers, we must do the same. No retreat. No passivity. No timid faith.
Fight the good fight! Take hold! And don’t let go!
Grace and peace be with you,
Pastor Lu