DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 11.07.20

A Child's Thanksgiving by Katherine Britton "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." - 1 Chronicles 29:13 Sometimes it takes a children's sermon to remind me what's important. Thanksgiving should be a simple affair, but my adult brain had overcomplicated this heart attitude without much effort. The past few months had been filled with many moments where I hadsaid, "So far, so good" but doubted the future. The provision at hand was enough, to be sure. Yet I wondered if what looked like adequate provision today would diminish over time. I doubted God's intention to replenish what I used up. On Sunday, I listened to the children's sermon with special attention when the kids talked about the Mayflower and the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Each child quickly displayed their knowledge of Pilgrims and Indians - including Squanto - and incredibledynamic that played out that harvest season. Their teacher slowly enlarged their descriptions to include the previous winter's deaths, the desperately short food supply, the hope of a new planting season, and the summer's withering drought. By the time harvestrolled around, crops had been gathered in - not in abundance, but certainly sufficient compared to the previous year. The Pilgrims knew it, and reveled in the adequacy of their harvest. Edward Wislow, one of the only primary sources on the day, wrote thisabout it: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, servedthe Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, andthey went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are sofar from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." Almost four hundred years later, I stand convicted by Winslow's words. The man had stared death in the face, and had little idea what future lay in store for the Plymouth colonists. In spite of that, he had literally tasted God's provision and found himselfsatisfied. The meal was so filling, he wished that even if "it be not always so plentiful… we often wish you partakers in our plenty." I wish I had Winslow's faith, to happily look at today's provision and consider each simple wonder. We are "so far from want" in those moments. We serve a faithful God who is more than enough for all of our needs. It's like the praise song says: All of You is more than enough for all of me For every thirst and every need You satisfy me with Your love And all I have in You Is more than enough Happy Thanksgiving! Risenwith Christ “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right handof God.” (Colossians3:1) The twice-born have been raised with Christ and the “new man” is effectively positioned with Christ in glory. We have been made alive “together with Christ” (Ephesians2:5) and in the eternal reality of our Creator, who “made us sit together in heavenly places” (Ephesians2:6). Thus, the command to seek the “above” realities is not merely a theological idea but rather a profound order to embrace the reality of our new empowerment to walk with Christ in a new life (Romans6:4). Indeed, we have been newly created by the Creator in “righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians4:24). Therefore, since we are God’s workmanship, it is not possible that God could create His children for any other purpose than “good works” (Ephesians2:10). Obviously, our Lord knows that we are still in “earthen vessels” (2Corinthians 4:7). That is precisely why He promised to provide all of our earthly needs if we would but “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew6:33)—including our necessary “patient continuance in well doing” (Romans2:7). Remember, “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians4:19). The environment of the world constantly opposes the reality of “above.” Even the wisdom of above seems counterintuitive; it is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James3:17). Yet we are still expected to seek to live like we are above because “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians2:20). HMM III How Are Your Thoughts? by Anna Kuta “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy,meditate on these things” (Philippians4:8). We’ve all heard the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out” – it’s a statement that originated in reference to computer input and output but is now often applied to other areas of life. I, for one, heard it countless times growing up when it came to healthy foodversus junk food, and I’m sure you’ve heard it used to refer to something along similar lines. And as I was reading today’s verse a few days ago, I realized Paul is using the same principle here in reference to our minds. In instructing the Philippians about how to live godly lives, he includes this verse about what they should be thinking about andfocusing on. Whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, praiseworthy – this is what he tells them to meditate on. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you,” he goes on in verse 9. As Christians, our aim is to live a life pleasing and obedient to God. Our Christian lives should show a pattern of growth and sanctification – becoming more like Jesus and less like the sinful people we were before. But before our actions can line up withJesus, our minds and hearts have to. Do we expect to live lives reflecting of Him if our minds are focused elsewhere, on sinful things? No, our minds should focus on godly things – things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy.Godliness in, godliness out. Obviously, there are many terrible things in the world that we cannot escape – and indeed we as Christians are called to be in the world but not of it – but that just means it’s especially crucial to keep our minds focused on things that mirror and reflectGod’s nature and goodness. It actually goes further than just our thoughts – it means guarding our thoughts as well: being careful just what we willingly let in to our minds and hearts. As Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” No, I may not have any control over things I see and hear in the world on a daily basis, but I can choose what I decide to fill my mind with on my own time. The music I listen to, the books I read, the conversations I take part in, the movies and TV shows I choose to watch – are they things that will help my thoughts have the characteristics Paul talks about in today’s verse? If not, I truly need to reevaluate what I am feeding my mind. ShadowyThings “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, orof the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians2:16-17) The closing verses of Colossians 2 contain a litany of holidays and regulations that were plaguing the newly formed New Testament church. Essentially, any other regulatory system is not a God-ordained means to evaluate spiritual purity. Dietary and man-made holidays can be carried out by a total unbeliever and can be easily faked. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans14:17). Paul told the Galatians these things were “weak and beggarly elements” that enslaved them to the observations of “days, and months, and times, and years” (Galatians4:9-10). Even the Old Testament Law was merely a “shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things” (Hebrews10:1). Even more dangerous, however, was the worship of natural, “unseen” things that would plunder the Christian of eternal reward (Colossians2:18). Worshiping angels (messengers) is simply wrong. Worshiping fleshly intellectualism (the rudiments of the world) leads to error. Worshiping asceticism (voluntary humility) is foolish. These phrases in Colossians are unique to Scripture. The emphasis seems to be on a natural mysticism—using physical or naturalistic imagery to find spiritual meaning. All of the form and imagery of the flesh and the man-made rules and regulations made “afterthe commandments and doctrines of men” (Colossians2:22) do not honor God—they merely satisfy the flesh. The “joints and bands” of the body (church) bring about a godly increase. “Holding the Head” ministers and nourishes the twice-born (Colossians2:19-23). HMM III Preachingthe Word “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts8:4) Every believer has been called to preach God’s Word, not just pastors of churches. When Christ gave the Great Commission to “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark16:15), it was clear that this could be accomplished only if every Christian would actually preach the gospel! This was practiced first by the members of the church at Jerusalem. Then, when the believers were “all scattered abroad...except the apostles” (Acts8:1), these “laymen” went everywhere preaching the Word. One of the “deacons” selected to relieve the apostles of the “business” affairs of the church was Philip, and he “went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts8:5), speaking to great crowds and winning many to Christ. Then shortly afterward, the Lord called him down to Gaza where he met an Ethiopian eunuch, and he “preached unto him Jesus” (Acts8:35). This teaches plainly that one can preach to a large congregation, but he or she can also preach to one person. It is not the size of the congregation but the theme of the message that makes one a preacher of the Word! Furthermore, it is not only by word of mouth that Christ is preached; Paul says that “the gospel...was preached to every creature [literally, ‘in every creation’] which is under heaven” (Colossians1:23). “And how shall they hear without a preacher?...But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans10:14, 18). One can preach verbally to a congregation or to an unseen audience through radio or in writing to a reader, and even a godly lifestyle can “preach” effectively (although not specifically) of the saving work of Christ. Even the heavens declareHis glory, and every believer must preach the Word! HMM The Top of the Waterfall by Katherine Britton "My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you." – Isaiah26:9 As I looked up the path – and up, and up – I couldn’t even see the head of the waterfall. The last cataract foamed in front of me, but the first was far up on mountain, where the sunlight hit the summit. I wanted to see more. The trail was relatively easy, but I was huffing and puffing before long thanks to the incline. The trail snaked back and forth across the mountain, taking us up a fifty feet with each turn. The second, third, and fourth cataracts appeared, and we clamberedonward after each one, still intent on seeing that first drop. In the words of C. S. Lewis, the lure of “further in and further up” kept us going, as beauty upon beauty made us eager to see even more. The view didn’t disappoint us. The autumn panorama spread over the surrounding hills, contrasted in highlight and shadows from the afternoon sun. Everyone at the summit was smiling and taking pictures. Nobody sat with their back against the view. To ourright, the head of the waterfall rushed on, flowing over the first drop. Nothing in the suburbs compares with what we saw. What is it about a waterfall – or anything natural wonder – that makes us stop and stare? What is it about a rainbow that keeps us looking for the next one? Why is Niagara Falls so famous? Why does the human soul dream of places so far from what we normallyexperience? Why do we keep following the path until we see the greatest beauty of all? Why Paul Wasn't a Zombie by John UpChurch “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians1:28-29 Worn out. Exhausted. Please oh please oh please be Friday. Those words probably describe many of our weeks—often by Monday afternoon. The surge of the weekday tide sucks us under and spins us around and strips away our energy by making us swim to the surfaceover and over again. Gasp. Bills. Gasp. Long meeting. Gasp. Kids biting each other. What more can we give than that? What else can God expect from us than just trying to keep from drowning in the mess of life? Paul says everything and more. Yep, you read that right. We’re supposed to slap down every last ounce of ourselves to the cause of Christ. We’re supposed to surrender every modicum of ourselves to the purpose of “proclaiming Him” with our joy-filled wordsand our peace-in-the-midst-of-this-hurricane-called-life actions. Everything. Every single bit. For Him. Feeling tired yet? I hope you don’t. You see, there’s something in here that we too often overlook. It does take energy—loads of it—to live a life of surrender. We wouldn’t expect anything less from being a living sacrifice (Romans12:1). That means using all that we are to make all that He is known to all. But even with all those alls, you won’t be using up your energy. Whom to Pray For “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, bemade for all men.” (1 Timothy 2:1) Let no one ever say that he has nothing to pray about, or that he doesn’t know how to pray in God’s will, for it is always in the will of God to pray for other people! This is a great gift that any Christian can give, even if he is penniless or bedridden. Thereare none so poor as to be unable to afford such a gift, nor can even the wealthiest give a finer gift. Note just a few of the relevant commandments to believers. First, we are to pray for all fellow Christians: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians6:18). We should also pray for the lost. Jesus commanded, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke10:2). There is a special command to pray for sick disciples. “Pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). We are even told to pray for our enemies. “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28). We are told to pray for Christian brethren who “sin a sin which is not unto death” (1 John 5:16), though if the sin has already led to physical death (asin 1 Corinthians 11:30), there is no warrant for further prayer in that case. Finally, we are especially admonished to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1Timothy 2:2), and for the ministries of those who proclaim the gospel (Colossians 4:2-4). In short, in the words of our text, we should offer up supplications,prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people everywhere, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).HMM Focus Your Mind �Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.� (Colossians3:2) The command of this verse is contained in the Greek word phroneo. The noun form has an emphasis on the emotive side of our thoughts. Its use in secular Greek literature favors what we might call our gut reactions or our intuition. Obviously, the verbis recorded in the imperative mode, making the term both intensive and authoritative. It could well be translated �direct your reactions so that they respond to� heavenly matters. The Lord Jesus rebuked Peter because he did not �savor� the things of God (Matthew 16:23). In many other places, the translators have chosen �mind� as theterm�s best rendering (e.g., Philippians 2:2, 5; 3:15-16; 4:2). But in each case, the emphasis appears to be on the way we react to our relationship to God�s Word or to each other. And in each case, as in our text for today, the emphasis is always for us to focus on the matters of eternity, not on our earthly circumstances. Paul�s great teaching throughout Romans 6, 7, and 8 gives a wonderful comparison and contrast between the flesh and the spirit, concluding in chapter 8 that �they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit� (Romans 8:5). Insisting that the believers in the Philippian church follow his own life�s example, Paul agonizes over many among them who walk so �that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is intheir shame, who mind earthly things� (Philipians 3:18-19). A worldly lifestyle is very dangerous for a believer. Please remember the warning �whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God� (James4:4). HMM III CleanYour Mind �But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.� (Colossians3:8-9) Once the intense drives of the fleshly appetites have been �executed,� we who have been created after God �in righteousness and true holiness� (Ephesians4:24) must cleanse the passions of the intellect as well. The action required is that we must �place away from� or �throw away� these ideas that are begun in the mind. These notions are sinful and harmful to everyone. •Anger (orge) is an agitation of the soul that generates an impulse, a desire, that produces a violent emotion. •Wrath (thumos), as the word suggests, is intellectual heat, a boiling up that produces a fierce indignation. •Malice (kakia) is the ill will that creates a desire to injure, even elimininating shame at breaking laws. •Blasphemy (blasphemia), one of the few words directly transliterated from the Greek, means any slander or speech that is injurious to another�s good name. •Filthy communication (aischrologia) is any kind of foul speaking or low and obscene speech. •Lying (pseudomai) is any deliberate false information. We are to put off the old man, that nature and behavior that was bound up in the flesh (Ephesians4:22), and put on the new man �which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him� (Colossians3:10). Our salvation brings with it both a new heart and a new mind. With the one we are able to �mortify� the deeds of the flesh. With the other we are to put on �the LordJesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof� (Romans13:14). HMM III Flying Lessons by Meghan Kleppinger "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11, NAS While traveling to Chattanooga, TN a few years ago, I read the autobiography, Dorie: The Girl Nobody Loved, by Dorie Van Stone. The book retraces the past of a deeply wounded child transformed into a woman with heart on fire for the God who loves her. As a child, Dorie was rejected and abandoned by her mother, and abused by orphanage workers, foster parents, and relatives. In the midst of a horrendous childhood filled with daily mistreatment, Dorie was introduced to the One who did love her and wouldnever abandon her. Her life is now one that reflects not her past, but her Savior. As I finished reading the final chapter on the plane, I shared with the Lord that I wanted to meet Dorie, give her a huge hug, and thank her for writing the book. During my layover in Atlanta, I saw a woman resembling Dorie in one of the airport stores. I pulled the book out of my bag to compare the woman in the store with the photo on the back cover. I shook off the possibility and thought the same thing you arethinking now, �There is no way!� I proceeded to my gate promising myself if I saw her again I would I ask if she was, in fact, �Dorie.� I�m not proud to admit that when she appeared at my departure gate, I was a complete wimp and did not approach her. She sat two seats behind me on the plane, and still I said nothing. In Chattanooga�s airport she kept popping up, but I continued to comeup with excuses for not asking a simple question. Finally, while waiting for my baggage, I heard someone say, "Mrs. Van Stone." I turned to her and finally asked, "Are you Dorie Van Stone?" She answered �yes� (of course). "Oh my!" was my intelligent response. I continued with, "I just finished your book on the plane." "What did you think?" She asked, smiling. �It was wonderful!� I managed to gurgle out. �I promised myself that if I ever met you I would give you a big hug!� The Passion to Obey John 14:15 For a sermon I gave several years ago, I jotted down a list and titled it "The Evolution of a Passion to Obey God." That passion doesn't just spring up, full-blown at salvation. We do enter our new life in Christ with a desire to please Him, and that does include obeying Him. But an intensely determined pursuit of His will develops more slowly. In fact, the first stage--fear of the consequences of disobedience--barely qualifies as reverence for God. But as we progress in our faith and form a commitment to obey the Lord, we eventually reach the final stage, which is love and devotion to Christ. Wouldn't you rather follow Him out of love than out of fear? Getting from the first stage to the last begins with what you might expect--an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we dig into God's Word to see how He provided for the saints, we develop a desire for His best. Men like Moses, David, and Paul weren'tsatisfied with what the world had to offer, and we won't be either when we witness His work in the lives of His followers. So we test out obedience and discover that God's promised blessings are real. As we acquire a record of consistent rewards for doingHis will, we recognize the wisdom of obedience. Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise. God wants your best--your passionate pursuit of His will--becauseHe is giving His best to you. A Commitment to Obey Psalms 1 The Bible declares the Lord's great power and majesty while also revealing His deep mercy and love. He is worthy of wholehearted, passionate submission, but He doesn't often get it. Are you among the few who offer themselves to Him without reservation? Complete obedience is a choice to follow God regardless of the consequences. This means that we obey the Lord even if our friends choose a different path or when suffering or embarrassment is guaranteed. Seeing His will done is more important than our owncomfort or personal ambition. We commit the consequences to God and cling to His promises: He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5), and Hemakes good out of every situation (Rom. 8:28). Notice the word 'commitment' in the title of today's devotion. I'm not writing about obedience that is born of the moment (as in, I choose to follow God in this instance) but about submission as a way of life. Setting restrictions on compliance is so tempting--wewant to be able to change our mind when obeying upsets our lifestyle, the final result is unclear, or we're just plain scared. But let me ask you this one sobering question: If Jesus is the Lord of your life, what right do you have to limit how and when you'lldo His will? Believers have no right to set their own limits; their one criterion for making decisions should be, What does God want me to do? The answer at times may cause suffering, but obedience is always right. And following God in all things is the surest path tofavor and spiritual growth. MortifyYour Fleshly Members �Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection,evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.� (Colossians3:5) This imperative command is very important for the twice-born. It is nothing less than an active execution of passionate, evil deeds born from the lusts of the flesh. �For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify thedeeds of the body, ye shall live� (Romans8:13). The list that follows is unyielding. •Fornication (porneia) includes all deviant and extramarital sex (Leviticus18:6-23; Romans 1:26-28). •Uncleanness (akatharsia) references that which is �dirty; foul, wanton, or lewd� (Ephesians4:17-19). •Inordinate affection (pathos) is a word used only of homosexuality (Romans1:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:5). •Evil desire (epithumia) describes evil cravings (1Peter 4:3; Jude 1:17-19). •Covetousness (pleonexia) is simply greediness that is idolatry (2Peter 2:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:5). This evil behavior will surely bring the �wrath of God...against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,who hold the truth in unrighteousness� (Romans1:18). That judgment will be carried out on such people because of an impenitent heart that is �treasuring up� the �righteous judgment of God� (Romans2:5-6). The most startling fact of this behavior is that those who willfully participate in it know �the judgment of God� and that �they which commit such things are worthy of death.� Not only does this behavior signify a rebellious heart but also an open desire to �have pleasure in them� (Romans1:32). �Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience� (Ephesians5:6). HMM III It�s Not a Cakewalk; It�s a Conflict - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. �John 10:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/its-not-a-cakewalk-its-a-conflict/- Listen Some Christians are surprised to find that life as a follower of Jesus is not a cakewalk; it�s a conflict. It is not a playground; it�s a battleground. It isn�t a question of whether you�re going to be in a spiritual war. In this particular battle, you cannot choose to be a pacifist because you�ll die on the battlefieldif you do. The day you committed your life to Jesus Christ was the day the Devil declared war on you. He had you where he wanted you before. He was quite happy with that arrangement.But you weren�t. Neither was I. That�s why we turned to Christ. Jesus said, �The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly� (John10:10 NKJV). The Bible tells us that the god of this age, Satan, blinded our eyes (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). It tells us that we were taken captive by him to do his will (see 2 Timothy2:6). But we got sick and tired of being ripped off, so we put our faith in Christ. Of course, the Devil isn�t happy about this. And he isn�t going to take it lying down. In fact, he�ll do everything he can to trip you up or defeat you on this battlefield. Someone has wisely pointed out that conversion has made our hearts a battlefield. Anyone who chooses to be on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ will face severe oppositionfrom Satan and his followers. So the question is this: Are you going to win or lose in this spiritual war? Are you going to advance, or are you going to retreat? Will you gain ground, or will you loseground? There are no other alternatives. The Good Fight - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. �1 Timothy6:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-good-fight/- Listen World War II was one of the biggest conflicts in the history of humanity. Think for a moment about how different the world would be if America had not entered that conflict.Things would look very different than the world we have now. War is never desirable, but sometimes you have to fight. And it was right for the United States to stand up, especially when Hitler�s goal was to eradicate the Jewish populationof Europe in his so-called �Final Solution.� Sometimes it�s good to fight. Generally, most of us don�t like fighting. But there are some people who like to fight all the time. They look forward to fighting. They seemto thrive on arguments and conflict. I don�t know about you, but I�m not one of those people. I try to diffuse conflict. I try to get along with others to the best of my ability. But there are times when youhave to just step up and fight. On more than one occasion, the Bible compares the Christian life to a conflict on a battlefield. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, �You therefore must endure hardship asa good soldier of Jesus Christ� (2 Timothy 2:3 NKJV). Later in the same letter he wrote, �I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith� (4:7 NKJV). In 1 Timothy 6, Paul said, �Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well beforemany witnesses� (verse 12 NLT). Notice that Paul said it�s a good fight. We have to stand up and fight. The good news is that we win in the end. Guaranteed. The gospel is going to win, and the kingdom of God is going to win.