29 November | Teens
«I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith….Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.» 2 Timothy 4: 7,8
Nowadays, we see a lot of fighting sports on television, such as UFC and MMA, where fighters face intense challenges in the ring. Many Christians watch these fights, but agree that they can be quite violent. In 2 Timothy 4:7 and 8, Paul uses a similar comparison, although he is not talking about physical fighting.
He compares our life to a fight, and we all know that life isn't easy. As Rocky Balboa said in a famous movie, “No one will hit harder than life. It doesn't matter how you hit it, but how much you can take and keep fighting; how much you can endure and keep going. That's how you win.”
Paul reminds us that life can be a real challenge, and facing these challenges courageously and faithfully is like fighting a “good fight.” But here's the difference: today's fighters are fighting for money. However, today's verse teaches us that our fight is for the crown of righteousness! Jesus will give this true prize to all those who love His coming! So, no matter how many challenges you face, remember that the important thing is not to never fall, but to have the strength to stand up and keep going, enduring the challenges, because the prize will be so worth it!
Take Action
How about sharing this message with someone you know? It could be a friend from school, a family member or even someone from church. Talk about how to face life's challenges with courage and faith, and how the hope of the crown of righteousness inspires us to persevere.