I Have Fought the Good Fight

One of my college friends, Kristen Hester Hicks, has started a Blog Bible Study. Every week she is presenting a challenge for us to study. Then we are supposed to blog about it and link back to her original post. For several months I have been trying to figure out a way to do a deeper Bible Study, and to be honest....I let life get in the way. When I read her blog, I realized this is it..this is what I have been looking for. If you want to join us go to her blog, Pretty Sweet: Heaven- Minded and read the instructions for the Bible Study, you will be glad that you did!

This weeks verse: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 (ESV)

4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is

to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and

his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and

out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete

patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when

people will not endure sound teaching, but having

itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers

to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away

from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering,

do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,

and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought

the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of

righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,

will award to me on that Day, and not only to me

but also to all who have loved his appearing.

In My Words:
We are to be ready to teach anybody, EVERYbody, anytime, ALL the time, any place, and EVERY place. Paul is begging Timothy (and us) to keep his mind (our minds) on the day of the Lord's appearing. We are to preach the gospel with unwavering diligence. We must be aware of false teachers, who will tell people what they want to hear instead of the truth... and we must teach the truth As Paul approached his execution, his body had been beaten, wounded, and scarred, but Paul could proudly say...."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul was able to say "I HAVE WON!!!"

My Thoughts:
We must be prepared to teach people about Jesus and to show them the way. Paul teaches by example and he was a great example of preaching anytime and any place. A couple of examples that stick out to me are:
* Acts 16:25-31 Paul was preaching in prison at midnight.
* Acts 27:20-25 Paul was preaching on a sinking ship on a dark stormy day.

On the day of Judgement the faithful followers of Christ will receive their reward. On the day of Judgement I want to be able to proclaim like Paul... "I HAVE WON!!!" and then enter in to my reward. What a day that will be!!!