Running can be good for you—both physically and spiritually. The apostle Paul expresses this truth when he wrote to Timothy, “Flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
The word flee means “to run away from.” The word follow means “to run swiftly after in order to catch.” The goal of every Christian’s life ought to be to run away from evil and to pursue the virtues that Paul lists here.
What are the primary virtues of the Christian life?
1. Righteousness. This is right standing with God. It comes as a result of receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Righteousness is not the result of our achieving. It is the result of our believing (Romans 10:4). Once you have been set right with God you ought to seek to live a morally upright life.
2. Godliness. This means God-likeness. What is God like? Look at Jesus Christ. See how he deals with temptation, see how he treats the sinners of his day, see the kinds of things he spends his time doing, then go and do likewise. The more Christlike you become, the more godly you will be.
3. Faith. This is confident assurance in God that sets you free from anxiety, worry, and fear. The more you believe God and his promises, the more peace and confidence will characterize your life.
4. Love. This has reference to God’s love and is produced in you by the Holy Spirit. Psychiatrist Karl Menninger, who ran the famous Menninger Clinic in Kansas, once said that the most important thing that he and his staff gave their patients was love. He said that if they could teach their patients to give and receive love they could cure them of all of their physical and emotional problems.
5. Patience. This is steadfastness and stickability under pressure. It is that strength of character that stands up to life without falling to pieces or going to the tranquilizer bottle when hard times come.
6. Meekness. This is not the same as weakness. It is gentleness of disposition. Moses and Jesus were both meek men. But neither was a coward. They were like a velvet-covered brick—tough on the inside, soft on the outside.
These are virtues that belong in the life of every believer. You are to run swiftly after them and incorporate them into your life.