"Roll with the Punches"

Today’s blog stems from a message that I recently brought in our mid-week service at the church.  In the religious culture of our day, we have been exposed to the imagery of the mega- church movement…. the feel good theology…. the “I’m ok, you’re ok” mentality that has fostered an idea that the Christian journey is one that is devoid of heartache, disappointment or even struggle. I have often thought, “Boy, wouldn’t that be great?!?” if  every service was filled with singing, smiling, clapping people who seem to have no problems, who are there to enjoy the festive atmosphere and get their weekly self-esteem boost? The truth is… that is not reality in the true Christian journey. It is a warfare, a battle, and a struggle. I begin my thought today in 2 Timothy 4:5 where the Apostle Paul is instructing young Timothy on his duty, his dangers, and his defense. Paul says in verse 7…

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Paul knew all too well the battles that would lie ahead for Timothy. He began to instruct him in verse 5

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions…….”

Paul was saying…. Timothy, there are some blows that will come your way in this fight, some things that will happen to you that will have the aim of putting you out of the race, but what you must do is “endure” afflictions. Webster defines the word endure this way: to last, to continue in the same state without perishing, to bear with patience, to bear without sinking under the pressure. In the sport of boxing they use a phrase “Roll with the punches.” The definition of that phrase is to cope with and to withstand adversity, especially by being flexible. To be able to deal with difficulties, without receiving the full force of the attack; to step back, to move to the side, to bob and weave.

It would be a very helpful thing to all who are in the battles of the Christian life, to understand we must learn to “roll with the punches” if we are to finish our course as Paul did. Attacks will come, sometimes suddenly and violently, and the goal of the enemy is to put us on the mat and to keep us from getting back up and into the fight. Each fighter has a specialty punch that is their most effective. It may be a right or left hook, an uppercut, or a jab, but we need to “watch in all things” for the punch that would be most effective in defeating us.

There are times in life we are dealt a “SUFFERING PUNCH”. We are living in a world of suffering. We are met with sickness and disease, financial stress and poverty, Hunger and lack, injustice and wrongdoing. We are not exempt as Christians. You may be suffering in some form today as a Christian and the enemy will use that punch to try and convince you that serving God is not worth it and that somehow God has failed you. Not True. Some of the greatest Christians I have ever known are those that stayed true while enduring a suffering punch. Some of the greatest encouragements I have ever experienced, have come many times beside the bedside of a Saint that was enduring affliction and yet still praised God for how good He was to them. Suffering saints are often the sweetest saints and have a special touch of God upon their lives. I think of the great songwriter, Fanny Crosby. She suffered from blindness yet used her gift to encourage and uplift throngs of Christian through the ages with her songs. She endured affliction.

There are times in life we are dealt a “SATANIC PUNCH”. The story of the life of Job is a good example of this punch.

Job 2:6-7 “and the Lord said unto Satan, behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and SMOTE job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown.”

Job had lost his family, his wealth and now the most personal of punches, his health! 

Verses 9-10  “then said his wife unto him, dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die. but he said unto her, thou speaketh   as one of the foolish women speaketh…”

 Job endured hardship. Job learned to roll with the punches. When Satan punches you will not be in the dark as to where it came from. He is powerful. His blows leave his calling card. What we must do to endure this affliction is to remember that greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!! Satan my try to knock me out but he has no ability to knock my Savior out of me!!

Many times in life we are dealt a “SUCKER PUNCH”. The one you did not see coming. Maybe it came from a source you trusted. I think it is true…. only suckers throw sucker punches. Have you ever been brought low by something or someone that you would never have expected? We all have felt the blow of betrayal, the surprise of a sneak attack that the enemy often uses to inflict the most heart wrenching damaged. Jesus warned his followers in Luke 21:16

“…and ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all me for my name’s sake.”

Maybe you have been dealt a blow by a trusted friend, or maybe even a loved one has inflicted hurtful situation upon you. Just remember, roll with the punches, finish the course and trust God to give you strength.

Finally, many times in life we are dealt a “SELF-INFLICTED PUNCH”. This gives new meaning to the old saying “Knock yourself out.” Often the hardest afflictions we have to endure are those that we bring upon ourselves. Mistakes we make, wrong decisions, or even wrong actions. They all have an impact upon our spiritual life. King David is a good example of a man that endured a self-inflicted punch. David was a man after God’s own heart, yet David allowed the temptation of his flesh to cause him to sin greatly in taking Bathsheba and allowing her husband to be killed. David suffered much at this self-inflicted blow and was brought low as we read in much of the Psalms, yet David repented and endured his affliction and was used of God even after his sin. You may have dealt a blow to yourself by some sinful action or some regretful mistake that has now put you down on the mat questioning whether you can ever get up and go on again. Remember, Paul told Timothy,

“...watch thou in all things, endure afflictions…”

You can get up, you can go on, and you can finish your race pleasing to God.