… striving together as one for the faith of the gospel…
Summary: “Striving together” suggests a coordinated effort between people. On closer examination, we discover that a loose association of believers can also “strive together.”
When was the last time you found yourself “striving together” with anyone? Do you remember? What were you striving for?
To “strive” is an interesting word and one that we don’t use much anymore. People strive when they have to work very hard over a long period of time to accomplish a goal. Striving may include overcoming obstacles and contending with people trying to obstruct them.
People strive to earn a degree or learn a trade. Sometimes, we strive just to keep our job. Striving is involved in getting anything worthwhile in life. One of the best examples of “striving together” is sports.
On an individual level, athletes strive to “make the team.” This involves dedication in every aspect of life. Physical training, personal discipline, and mental focus are all required of a successful athlete. For those who make the team, another aspect of striving comes into play: teammates have to “strive together.”
On the practice field, the striving is all about learning to work together. When it comes to playing against an opposing team, the culmination of personal and team training comes together to strive against an opponent. Competing against an opponent is where a “game” most closely resembles life.
What makes life off the playing field different is that we don’t always know who our opponent is or what they look like. They can come at us from all directions or blindside us when we least expect it. Striving requires that we “keep faith” and keep trying.
Striving together as Christians is difficult. As easy as it is to “make the team,” it is sometimes difficult to know which “team” we are supposed to be on. One church teaches this, and another teaches that.
The one thing we know for certain is that our “…enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Which is interesting…
Having one enemy does give the Gospel a singular point of focus. Nobody wants to spend eternity with the one who is condemned to be “thrown into the lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 20:10). On the other hand, choosing to serve God offers what Jesus promised to the thief on the cross: “…today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). That, too, offers a point of focus.
If we look at life in these simple terms, it really is true that all who believe in Jesus (John 6:29) are striving together as one for the faith of the Gospel!
Application: Be intentional about your striving for Jesus.
Food for Thought: How does God guide our striving?
Our striving will hopefully be guided by His word, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, unity of agreement in the fellowship we are striving with, through hardship and difficult conversations. Striving by definition is not easy. By definition it takes discipline, commitment and effort. Some things are worth striving for – Jesus is definitely worth striving for and toward.
Philippians 3: 7 – 14: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Rich,
Implied in your comment and the passage you quoted is the idea that striving for Jesus is striving against the pull of material things.
Thank you! That is an important point. I am glad you made it!
How does God guide our striving?
He calls, empowers, sustains, and unifies His body on earth.
Knowing only His sheep will hear and respond to His voice, God calls to all mankind, and none can say they were not called.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
What we have received is not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Thank you, Ron!
Called by God, but allowed to stay in the fight. It is an interesting conundrum. Thankfully, God is with us all the way!
Good devotion and some excellent answers and points brought up today.
How does God guide our striving?
Through His Word and through the Holy Spirit, He shares with us His wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He gives us the ability to turn wisdom into wise living.
Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Through His Word and through the Holy Spirit, He lets us know what his good Will is for our life. He gives us the ability to choose His good will, and transforms our minds.
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Roman 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Thank you, Chris!
Excellent answer!
You bring to mind Hebrews 4:12 —
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”