Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: April 6th

’’ Fight the good fight of faith."― 1 Timothy 4:12.

There is a fight that is good; a warfare that is eminently laudable. It is lamentable to see how easily men err in deciding what is worthy, what is not worthy to enlist their noblest energies. A question of unspeakable importance; ― for what boots it that you undergo hardships, surmount difficulties, make the most incredible sacrifices, exhibit the most brilliant valor, or the most consummate skill, if the cause in which you have embarked be one not worthy of your energies and sufferings? The same action is sublime when performed in its appropriate path, and insignificant when thrown away upon an inadequate cause. The tales of human heroism too often merely bid us come and see how wonderfully man is endowed, and how unworthily he throws away those endowments.

What is that conflict of which we can say that from what ever point of view it is contemplated, it manifests itself to be beyond impeachment, good? The annals of mankind reveal to us but one, the conflict of faith.

A life of faith is a life of victorious warfare. The unbelievers around us are all led captive. They have no weapons for this fight, and no heart for it; they wear the badges of servitude, without shame or reluctance. We hear them say:

" Our business hath paramount claims upon us;"

" There is time in the future for religion;"

" Heaven cannot be understood on earth;"

" We must enjoy ourselves while it is day, for the night cometh;"

" What harm is there in going to scenes of festivity?"

" It is enough that a man be sincere;’’

" There are strange things in the Bible;"

" It was once perhaps suited to the condition of men."

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These and a thousand corresponding expressions drop from their lips and tell us too plainly, alas! that these poor persons have been smitten down by the bludgeon of the adversary, carried off to be his helpless slaves, and taught the language of his realm.

As we look over the map of the world, innumerable places claim our notice as the scene of celebrated battles. And as we look over the pages of Scripture we find these thickly dotted with the indications of great spiritual battles fought there. We light upon the Word, " One thing is needful;" and to our mind’s eye two hosts present themselves, one inferior in number to the other; one fighting the good fight of faith and coming off victorious; the other sustaining a shameful defeat. " They that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing ’ is a citadel into which few have succeeded in entering; the whole plain around is strewed with the unbelieving dead. " Ask, and it shall be given you," is surrounded by a trench, which tens of thousands have attempted to pass, but have not been able. But we see the flag of faith waving from its topmost battlement. " Ye shall not enter," said the world, deploying its legions; "but this (we reply) is the victory which over cometh the world, even our faith."

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