TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017.
VICTORY
DEFINITION:
The winning of a contest or battle; any successful performance; triumph over an enemy.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. I John 5:4.
In the verse above from I John, John clearly defines who the ones are that overcome the world. They are all who believe in the Lord and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our being sinners and was buried and after three days He overcame death and He is alive today.
The Greek word for “overcome” means to conquer and to have victory. Jesus achieved victory over death and Satan. “So, that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” Hebrews 2:14-15.
Because of our union with Christ as believers, not only do we have victory over death but we have continual victory over the evils of the world we live in. In the verse we have put above, we read, “Every one born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” How truly thankful to God we should be for this.
God first spoke of victory in Genesis 4:6-7, when He was talking to Cain. Cain was very angry at his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. God said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. Our Lord’s desire is for you to rule over it (have victory over it).
Cain did not celebrate victory because he could not handle failure. He allowed anger to rule in his heart which led him to kill his brother Abel. Cain lost the victory.
Every day we have the challenge in our lives of being victorious over sin or losing the battle to Satan. When we sin, Satan wins and he then has victory over us.
Victory over Satan’s temptations to sin is what we as believers must continually strive for. As Paul reminded us in I Corinthians 15:57, we can be thankful that we do not fight the battle alone and that through our Lord Jesus Christ we have victory over Satan.
As we look at the state of our world today it would seem that Satan is winning the battle. Through Christ and His gift of salvation, we as believers, have the power to overcome the world by our faith in Him. (I John 5:4) On the cross Jesus defeated Satan and his power. Jesus is the victorious Lord and ultimate ruler of this world. Satan has only temporary rule of those who choose to follow him.
All six of our children played several sports while in school. They and their teammates always strived for victory in their games. We tried as often as possible to be at their games. In fact, we both coached several of our children when they were younger. When we coached, we shared with the children and their parents how easy it was to celebrate victory and how difficult it was to accept defeat.
We taught the children that we had the privilege of coaching that just as in sports, in real life there are winners and losers. A victory in our spiritual life is far more important than a victory in sports. All of us need to learn to lose graciously because it will help us get through the disappointments and failures that we will have in life. No one ever wins all the time. Whether in victory or defeat we should reflect the love of Jesus in our lives.
Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 4:8.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Thank You Lord for the victories You continue to give me in my life. Give me courage and foresight to claim victory over sin and the evil that I face in this world daily.
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