Can We Have A Fight Song That Is A Love Song?
Good Morning Friends,
Schools have songs sung during football season especially after touchdowns. Notre Dame has its Victory March, The Trojans have Fight On, The Volunteers have Rocky Top, Michigan has The Victors and Ohio State has Hang on Sloopy? No that cannot be the official one. Hang on Sloopy is a love song. I think the real fight song includes the lyrics, “Hit them hard and see how they fall, Never let that team get the ball.” But I wonder, Can We Have A Fight Song That Is A Love Song?
Scripture: But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NRSV)
Of David. Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’
Psalm 35:1-3 (NRSV)
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Romans 7:15-23
Message: The beauty of singing is that it helps us realize we do not have to fight our battles alone. There are at least 185 songs in the Bible. 150 of them are in the Book of Psalms which is a songbook but it is not the only book that is to be sung. The book of Lamentations has five songs of mourning and the Song of Solomon…the entire book is a love song. The song of Moses in Exodus 15 is the first song and also a variation of it is the last song in Revelation 15. The Bible is filled with songs that teach us to love and fight in a new way. You see the world doesn’t fight fair. But we are not to live or fight our battles that way. We are to use our prayers for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against us. We are to use our faith to turn fear into hope. Singing songs helps deliver our spirit. Singing a song can be like getting free refills at the game. Our very voice can be shaped by Christ as a way of motivating others as well as ourselves with a cup that overflows. You see we do not have to fight the battles of life alone or on half empty.
We can sing songs about them to fill us up. So don’t try to fight it alone or sing it alone. Let the Word made flesh be the champion in the fight when the battle comes to things spiritual. In fighting the good fight become heirs of salvation filled with God’s love…God’s presence. That is a fight song worth singing. We do not have to fight it. We have to love it and nurture it. Like a good athlete…like a good singer…we still need to take personal responsibility that our gifts be used for God, for His purpose in our life and as a witness in the lives of others. We need discipline and focus to the task given us…attention to the battle to be won…to the finish line and victory in the love of Christ shared but we also need to realize it is a collective cause. And friends this is a cause worth fighting for…a fight that will define our lives. And maybe that is why we sing. For in singing we become strong enough to fight against a world that tries to exclude God. No, singing does not win the battle, but it sure helps in our daily struggles, especially when our fight song is a love song.
Pray we fall in love and learn to fight the good fight in singing God’s praise. Pray we sing a song of rejoicing. Pray we sing a song of redemption. Pray we sing a song of victory. Pray we sing a song that unites us. Pray that our faith would fortify us for the fight.
Pray that we fight the good fight with love and truth. Pray we are not our own worst enemy. Pray we are committed to fight for love. Pray we realize the battle cannot be won alone. Pray we find victory in the love of Jesus. Pray we discover a song in our hearts.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 