1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NKJV) – You, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.
This verse lays down three important aspects of the followers of Christ. It talks about our identity as men and women of God. It tells us what we need to flee from and what we need to pursue so that we may have eternal life.
Who are men of God? Men of God are those of us, men, or women, who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. They have submitted themselves to God and trust and love Him completely. They live a holy and righteous life and follow the path God has laid out for them by seeking His plans and purposes for their lives. Most importantly, they serve God by giving their time, talents, and treasures for God’s work.
What are we, men of God, supposed to do when we see evil? The Bible does not say that we should watch it from afar or walk away from it slowly, but rather in this verse, it says we should flee from it. We are to flee from sins of body and mind, keeping ourselves holy and righteous.
So now that we know who we are and what we must flee from then, what must we accept and pursue? To put it very simply, we must pursue a godly life. We must pursue righteousness, faith in God, love, patience, and gentleness. God created us in His image, and we must pursue to build our character like God’s character. We should not fall into temptation but fight to stay on the path God has chosen for us and walk with Him toward eternal life.
