Fight and be at peace. Both?

At the same time saint and sinner.  We were reminded of this again in Bible class on Sunday as we're going through the seven letters in Revelation 2-3.  We are reminded of it constantly in our daily lives.  As St Paul diagnoses: "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Rom 7.19)  We want to do the good, we want to jump to action and serve and love and bless and pray and worship, but we don't.  We get in the way. 

In the same way, there is also another paradox that looms over us.  St Paul commands to Pr Timothy: "Fight" (1 Tim 6.12), yet in the same letter, just 4 chapters earlier, St Paul commands that we continue steadfast in prayer and supplication so that "we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior." (1 Tim. 2.2-3) 

Two descriptions of the life that is pleasing to our Lord Christ: fight AND lead a peaceful and quiet life.  Fighting and peace, all in the same life.  A mystery.  Here are my thoughts:

• Since we are saint and sinner, there are times when we fight against our own sinfulness (and the sin we find in the world, such as abortion), but there are other times when we remain peaceful and quiet (such as in worship and prayer).  This seems to be the constant tension within us: when do we fight, and when do we endure?  Not only that, but: what do we fight and what do we let go?
•  The cross of Jesus was the ultimate battle.  The eternal war was won there, just as the great Easter hymn confesses: "The fight is o'er the battle won"
• Peace is actually part of the fighting. Ephesians 6 states: "Therefore take up the whole armor of God...as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace."

A mystery, a paradox.  Fight...and be at peace.  God grant it.