A Student of Combat
On August 26, 2017 we witnessed history as the legendary world champion of welterweight boxing, Floyd Mayweather, and UFC superstar, Conor McGregor, boxed in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout went 1:05 into the 10th round where the referee called the fight and Mayweather celebrated another TKO to improve his professional record to 50-0.
Ironically, this was Conor Mcgregor’s debut as a boxer, but certainly not his first head to head match in combat. And though he was confident, he found that he wasn’t as prepared for his opponent as he thought. McGregor was passionate and faithful, but Mayweather was more prepared, strategic and ultimately victorious. “He was composed. Fair play to him,” said McGregor in the post fight interview with Showtime Sports. When asked what was next in his career, McGregor explained that Mayweather used strategies throughout the match that he wasn’t prepared for and therefore he was going to go back to the gym and learn how to defend and beat these strategies. He later humbly said, “I’m a student of combat,” showing that this loss is not going to stop him from training, learning and growing in his craft.
Often in life we find ourselves in situations where we believe things are going to work out a different way than they do. We are confident, we believe we will be successful and then we find ourselves defeated and can lose heart or even question whether or not we want to get back up. When we get knocked down, it is important to reflect, learn and then decide to get back up. I believe this is the mindset Jesus calls us to have as Christians. We are called to be students of spiritual c
ombat and to continually learn and get back up when we fall. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV) Why would Christians find themselves weary, burdened and in need of rest? It’s because we are in a spiritual battle each day! Why would someone come to Jesus through his words and learn? Jesus has the right direction and strategy of how to get up and fight the good fight of faith each day! After all, a disciple of Jesus is simply a student of their Teacher and Coach, Jesus.
How’s it been going in your life as a student of Christ? Have you been going to God in prayer and getting direction from God’s Word? Are you staying spiritually hungry? This is what it is going to take to continually get back up and remain faithful to Jesus.
Paul was no foreigner to the spiritual battle. Look at the words he writes from prison in Rome: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-14, NIV)
The battle we fight as Christians can often feel like it is against people or even ourselves, but the truth is that the battle is very spiritual and we need to grow with God each day to become experts. Look at the direction given to Timothy: “..train yourself to be godly.” (1 Timothy 4:7, NIV) This is the same advice we need to take to heart in order to be strong and faithful in the spiritual battle.
McGregor didn’t come up short in the fight with Mayweather because he wasn’t capable. He came up short because he wasn’t as experienced. Each day you pick up God’s Word and live it out in your life, you are making an investment in your future and gaining experience that is going to give you the endurance and strength to stay faithful til the end.
Your Brother in the Battle, Brian