November 16th, 2022
by Jon Cochran
by Jon Cochran
Good morning with a word for the day-
2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight.”
It would seem to me that if I was in the faith, and I had placed my faith in the right place, Christ Jesus, then everything would be ok. My life would be easy to live, and it would be without stress or strain. But if that were possible, that would not be a faith worth having.
Life is like a flowing river. I am in a boat heading downstream, going with the current. I don’t have to paddle at all, I’m just going as fast as the river is flowing. I have time to rest, look at the scenery, take in the beauty of the ride, and even take a nap, if I need to. I don’t have to paddle because I am not needed for it to move. There is no effort required on my part for it to go this direction or that. I am being carried by the ever growing current to wherever it is going.
Real faith, faith worth having, is like having access to a paddle laying in the bottom of the boat. You can take up the paddle and start trying to turn the boat around to get back to where you have been. You can change direction, and go against every drop of water flowing down the river. It will take determination and every ounce of energy and endurance that you have. In the trials of faith there are times you will not enjoy the ride, there will be times when you have no time to enjoy the scenery, you will have very little time for rest or napping. Your mind may tire, your muscles may ache and your endurance may weaken. But, if your heart faints, if you panic, give in or give up, even just for one second, the ever growing current of life will begin to be consumed again. Faith worth having is a battle you have won for every inched you have gained. Every ounce of water behind your paddle is another inch achieved. Your progress must be closely guarded because it can be lost if you do not endeavor to paddle even harder. Faith fought is faith gained. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Faith worth having means you must keep paddling. Never give up.
Also remember, every boat has a paddle.
2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight.”
It would seem to me that if I was in the faith, and I had placed my faith in the right place, Christ Jesus, then everything would be ok. My life would be easy to live, and it would be without stress or strain. But if that were possible, that would not be a faith worth having.
Life is like a flowing river. I am in a boat heading downstream, going with the current. I don’t have to paddle at all, I’m just going as fast as the river is flowing. I have time to rest, look at the scenery, take in the beauty of the ride, and even take a nap, if I need to. I don’t have to paddle because I am not needed for it to move. There is no effort required on my part for it to go this direction or that. I am being carried by the ever growing current to wherever it is going.
Real faith, faith worth having, is like having access to a paddle laying in the bottom of the boat. You can take up the paddle and start trying to turn the boat around to get back to where you have been. You can change direction, and go against every drop of water flowing down the river. It will take determination and every ounce of energy and endurance that you have. In the trials of faith there are times you will not enjoy the ride, there will be times when you have no time to enjoy the scenery, you will have very little time for rest or napping. Your mind may tire, your muscles may ache and your endurance may weaken. But, if your heart faints, if you panic, give in or give up, even just for one second, the ever growing current of life will begin to be consumed again. Faith worth having is a battle you have won for every inched you have gained. Every ounce of water behind your paddle is another inch achieved. Your progress must be closely guarded because it can be lost if you do not endeavor to paddle even harder. Faith fought is faith gained. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Faith worth having means you must keep paddling. Never give up.
Also remember, every boat has a paddle.
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