“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee and Pursue
Remember the game of tag? I think we played it every day of my childhood. Long summer evenings were spent outdoors running around, chasing and pushing each other, falling on the grass, getting sweaty and generally un-ready for bedtime.
Tag is a game of running toward and running from. This may seem a simplistic example, but it is a parable of our lives. According to Pastor Jack Hayford, “Throughout our lives we are either moving from or toward something that summons our interest… You’re either chasing or being chased!”
In today’s Scripture, this concept comes to life. We’re to FLEE lust, and PURSUE righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Put off one, put on the other. Leave this, and go there. You can’t serve the one true God and also other gods.
Choose, choose, choose, this day, whom you will serve…
It is hypocrisy to pursue both lust AND righteousness, because they head in different directions. If you ever wonder if you should go this way or that way, project them out to the end. Where will you end up if you pursue this lust? What if you pursue righteousness instead? In every battle, we choose sides. Which side did we land on? The side of faith, love, peace, and righteousness? Or just more of the flesh?
One thing I’ve learned: if I pursue the flesh, I will NOT have peace. This is one way the Spirit leads us. Think of Him as our personal trainer. What do personal trainers tell us? “Live a healthy lifestyle. Eat right. Exercise.” The Spirit tells us the same thing. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Feed on the Word of God. Exercise your will to choose God’s way in all things.”
“…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The Spirit of God will not dwell in a house of sin. My personal Trainer says to me, “See how terrible you feel when you make ungodly choices? You have no peace. You want peace? Pursue a godly lifestyle, not the life of the flesh.”
“Lord, we definitely need Your daily help to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with our brothers and sisters. By Your power, we will flee youthful lusts. We will not entertain merely a form of godliness, yet deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). We declare and trust that You are able to help us make choices that please You!”