“And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].” Matthew 11:12 (AMPC)
Today’s verse says that people will fight for something they value.
That tells me that as believers, we must develop a fighting spirit within us. Now, that doesn’t mean we pick fights or walk around with a scowl on our faces, looking to argue with someone. After all, we want to enjoy peace and laughter in our lives!
But at the same time, I’ve learned that we can’t be naïve about how to handle conflict that comes against us. If there’s strife, I never say, “Gosh, I hope I make it!” Instead, I’ve learned how to press on and take ground in the direction God wants me to go despite opposition. Why? It’s because I’ve discovered a prize worth fighting for.
The Israelites experienced the power of this very attitude after God freed them from slavery and led them to the edge of the Promised Land. He basically said, “All right, it’s all yours. Now get in there and take it!” And that’s precisely what they did. (See Joshua 10 and 11.)
It’s interesting because even though God had promised them the land, they still had to fight for it. The same goes for everything in our lives, whether it’s raising godly kids, maintaining our health or fulfilling our God-given purposes.
Don’t grow distracted or let the enemy frighten you into giving up what’s yours. Fight to stay focused on all that God has promised you. It’s worth the fight!
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