Teresa Poucher
My husband and I joined Tang Soo Do (karate) with our boys. We went five days a week. I enjoyed being able to work out together as a family. I liked the Katas (forms), which are simulated responses to attacks and are both offensive and defensive moves. We also had to learn wrist grabs, one-step sweeps, and so on. Can I tell you, we even had to learn the Korean and some Japanese words for all the kicks, blocks, and forms? Then there was “Fight Night.”
Friday was Fight Night, which wasn’t my cup of coffee. There were a few people who just showed up on Fight Night. Then many wouldn’t come on Friday. Yet, if you were going to advance in your belts, you had to fight.
I wasn’t ready to fight, but once I got clocked upside the head my fight response kicked in. Adrenalin started pumping and it wasn’t difficult. I learned that I could fight to protect myself.
I don’t like confrontation — I will avoid it. Most things are not worth fighting for. Yet sometimes, it is necessary. Today, it’s high time we get in the fight for what we know is right.
Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (II Timothy 4:7)
Strong’s Concordance* defines “fought” [G75] to “struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something):–fight, labor fervently, strive.”
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we anincorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (I Corinthians 9:25-27)
The words, “striveth” and “mastery,” are both defined by Strong’s the same as “fought” [G75], which is quoted above. “Fight”[G4438] is defined: “to box (with the fist), i.e. contend (as a boxer) at the games (figuratively):–fight.”
I have no intention of being a “castaway” [G96]: “unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally):–castaway, rejected, reprobate.”
I surely didn’t join Karate to fight, but if you are going to be victorious living for God you must fight the enemy of our soul.
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)
Again, the word “strive” [G75] is defined as quoted above. It might not be Friday, but get your family together – it’s Fight Night!It’s time to protect yourself and others. Speak in that heavenly tongue God gave you. Pray in the Spirit. Fight the good fight!
*All definitions from “Strong’s Concordance”, Classic, v. 3.03
