Sometimes it is good to fight.

In fact, it is always good to fight. No, wait -- it is absolutely necessary that we live lives that are marked by a constant, consistent, and active lifestyle of fighting. And not just any fighting, but specifically the fight against unbelief and doubt and sin. Too many times we think our Christian lives are basically over at salvation. That's the end. We've been saved from Hell, therefore we're good to go - we can relax. We think that learning more about Jesus, memorizing verses, doing daily quiet times and worship are just the cherry on top - not really necessary, but sometimes a good thing to have, just a bonus. But that is not how the Scriptures talk about our Christian lives. There is no passive Christian life described in the Bible. The Christian life is never one where we get to let our guard down. All descriptions of the Christian life are active descriptions. That is why the Christian life is referred to a Walk, or a Race, and a Fight. And because the Christian life is a walk, a race, or a fight, the Bible therefore calls us to persevere until the end, to endure, to run, to look forward, to strive, to look to the final goal, to box and wrestle and even to die. We must do this not because we are working for salvation (because we can't earn our salvation!!) because we are still sinful, and Jesus still calls us to live holy lives.
But how do you fight against unbelief, doubt, and sin? There are many ways. But probably the most important and powerful way we can do that is by memorizing and meditating on God's Word. David said, "I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Aren't you sick and tired of your sin? Don't you get sick of feeling like you let sin run your life? Fight against your flesh with the most powerful weapon there is, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Eph 6:17)
That is why we are beginning to memorize Fighter Verses. I wish I could express to you the dramatic change I have noticed in my spiritual life since I have begun a scripture memory plan. I find myself meditating on the bible verses throughout the day, which keeps me focused. I find myself in situations where the scripture I am meditating on and memorizing is very relevant and helps to guide me to the right decision or reaction. I find myself being more joyful and thankful. I find myself being exciting about what God is doing at OMV and in my own life. I just wish my youth minister would have challenged me to do this whenever I was a teenager. I can't even imagine the dramatic influence it would have had on my life. So we are going to raise the bar for ourselves. If we can learn to play instruments, play sports and video games, learn science and algebra, and memorize quotes from Napoleon Dynamite and lyrics from songs on the radio, then we can memorize the very words of the God who created the universe and who died on the cross to save us from ourselves. We can and we will. And the best thing is - we will do it together. We will fight and strive and persevere together against sin. And we will learn to love Jesus and His Word more than anything else in this world. Let's do it.

Fighting the good fight,
-- Aaron


All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.