Daily Devotion, January 23, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 2 Timothy 4:5-8.

The man formerly known as Saul was one who put his beliefs into action. He was willing to live what he believed, no matter the challenges he faced in doing so. He had grown up to become a zealous advocate for the Law of the Scriptures. He became equally convinced that the people who were teaching that Jesus was the Messiah were wrong and their mission had to be stopped. Then he had an encounter with Jesus and was forever changed. His zeal was now focused on sharing the good news of Christ with everyone he could. He wanted to help his Jewish brothers and sisters believe in Jesus, but saw his primary mission as sharing this news with the Gentiles, those outside the Jewish family.

 

His zeal and perseverance for that mission caused him to face many challenges, but he was faithful to it to the end. In these verses from one of his letters to his protege Timothy, he offers a statement that is often quoted on behalf of those who have also persevered in their faith: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

Remember that our fight is not against people, but against the forces of evil (hate, greed, fear, etc.), wherever we find them, including inside ourselves. We fight those forces with what we believe are superior forces (love, generosity, trust, etc.). With that in mind, may you and I be able to say at the end of our life, “I have fought the good fight…”

Personal Worship Option:

Consider praying this portion of the “Prayer of St. Francis” today:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.”