TODAY'S WORD FOR THURSDAY MAY 4, 2017.
DEFEAT
DEFINITION:
Conquer or overcome; overwhelm; overthrow or rout; to destroy; to have victory over.
And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and subscribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present or the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.
Do you find it difficult at times to believe that your situation can ever be better or that something good can come from it? The disciples who walked with Jesus were completely devastated, doubting and defeated after the crucifixion. The Savior had told them, in the verse above from Mark, what was going to happen with Him.
They simply could not see past their human perceptions or expectations of what was happening. Their expectation and hope was that Jesus had come as a conquering Messiah to defeat their enemies and free them from Roman rule. They could not begin to conceive how Jesus, their promised Messiah, could possibly be defeated and worse yet, be killed even when Jesus, Himself, was telling them it was going to happen.
After Jesus death on the cross, the disciples were brokenhearted, despondent and feeling absolutely helpless. Deep within their hearts, they believed it was all over. They had seen Jesus suffer and die on the cross with their own eyes. All of their hopes and dreams had been dashed.
How often do you get caught up in this same attitude of defeat? It is because you are overwhelmed by your circumstances because you are focused on your limited comprehension instead of God's awesome purposes for our lives. You need to see past your imperfect understanding of what is happening in your life and fix your eyes on our extraordinary Lord and Redeemer. He has a perfect plan for you. His plans may not be your plans but He knows better than you do, what is best for you.
Let us look at the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus to see what they discovered.
For the first time, they could now understand the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth. They now realized that God always succeeds in carrying out His plans. Jesus did come as the conquering Messiah but not to conquer the Romans, but to conquer death. Jesus promised to pay the penalty for our sins and deliver us from the penalty of death and He did. (Luke 24:45-48)
The disciples saw Jesus’ death as the end of Jesus’ plan and as a great defeat. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that they saw a great victory. Jesus defeated death on the cross and fulfilled God’s plan of Salvation for us. In verse 45 it says that “then He opened their eyes so that they could understand.” The same will happen in your life when you accept God’s plan of salvation and ask Jesus to save you. No matter how great your sin, be assured He has defeated death and conquered every sin.
Secondly, the disciples learned that nothing can separate us from God. Paul assures us in Romans 8:31-39 (this verse is above for you to read) that no matter what hardship or defeat we may suffer it is impossible for those who trust in the Lord to be separated from God. God's love will reach us no matter where we are or what circumstances we are in or even how defeated we think we are.
As Christians, we will face hardships in this life but not one thing can separate us from the love of God. The disciples thought they had lost Jesus through the crucifixion but the resurrection assured them that they would never be without Him again. We have the same assurance.
Thirdly, the disciples discovered that any adversity we experience is temporary because Jesus has given us eternal life. You may feel that you are facing defeat because your situation is so grave. You may be weary and disheartened, but do not give up hope. Cling to the promise that God acts on behalf of those of us who wait upon Him. Keep seeking Him and you will overcome your feeling of defeat.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 7:7.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Thank You heavenly Father, for fulfilling Your promised plan of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that I do not have to feel defeated because You are a mighty God who will make me victorious over every evil situation that Satan will use to defeat me. Thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love.
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