Bible League: Living His Word No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.Christians face all sorts of trials, troubles, and tribulations in life. Satan is our enemy and he is trying to defeat us. Romans 8:38 lists some of the things he uses in his quest to accomplish his goal: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword. Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 in order to show how desperate the situation can become, "'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered'" (Romans 8:36). Despite all these things, in our verse for today Paul says that we are "more than conquerors." What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? A conqueror is someone who defeats and overcomes an enemy. Someone who is more than a conqueror, on the other hand, is someone who achieves more than an ordinary victory; it is someone who achieves an extraordinary and overwhelming victory. Paul is saying that this is the kind of victory we achieve over Satan. How can this be? First of all, we are more than conquerors because we achieve overwhelming victory in the here and now. There are all sorts of examples from the Bible of the people of God overcoming the attacks of the enemy. For example, when King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were attacked by a great multitude he prayed and God gave them an overwhelming victory without even having to fight the battle (II Chronicles 20). Second, we are more than conquerors because we achieve overwhelming victory even when Satan appears to have won a battle. This is because there is nothing that can happen to us that is not permitted and used by God for our good. Romans 8:28 says that, "for those who love God all things work together for good." Finally, we are more than conquerors because we achieve overwhelming victory in the next life. Although Satan may cause all sorts of trouble in this life, he has no control over what happens to us in the next life. Indeed, his ultimate destiny is the lake of fire and sulfur (Revelation 20:10). Paul tells us that because we are more than conquerors nothing, not even death itself, "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). Take heart today, for we are more than conquerors. We can't lose for winning. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 8, 9 1 Kings 8 -- Ark Brought to the Temple; Solomon's Prayer of Dedication NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 9 -- God's covenant with Solomon; Solomon's works NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 23:39-56 Luke 23 -- Jesus before Pilate and Herod; Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion He will break down every high towerand every fortified wall. He will destroy all the great trading ships and every magnificent vessel. Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment. Insight Lofty towers were part of a city or nation's defenses. This phrase refers to security based on military fortresses. “Great trading ships” pictures economic prosperity; and “every magnificent vessel” reveals pleasure and enjoyment. Challenge Nothing can compare with or rival the place God must have in our hearts and minds. To place our hope elsewhere is nothing but false pride. Place your confidence in God alone. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.Peter most earnestly exhorted the scattered saints to love each other "with a pure heart fervently" and he wisely fetched his argument, not from the law, from nature, or from philosophy, but from that high and divine nature which God hath implanted in his people. Just as some judicious tutor of princes might labor to beget and foster in them a kingly spirit and dignified behaviour, finding arguments in their position and descent, so, looking upon God's people as heirs of glory, princes of the blood royal, descendants of the King of kings, earth's truest and oldest aristocracy, Peter saith to them, "See that ye love one another, because of your noble birth, being born of incorruptible seed; because of your pedigree, being descended from God, the Creator of all things; and because of your immortal destiny, for you shall never pass away, though the glory of the flesh shall fade, and even its existence shall cease." It would be well if, in the spirit of humility, we recognized the true dignity of our regenerated nature, and lived up to it. What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity to royal dignity. The king's royalty often lieth only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth, as a man is above the beast that perisheth. Surely he ought to carry himself, in all his dealings, as one who is not of the multitude, but chosen out of the world, distinguished by sovereign grace, written among "the peculiar people" and who therefore cannot grovel in the dust as others, nor live after the manner of the world's citizens. Let the dignity of your nature, and the brightness of your prospects, O believers in Christ, constrain you to cleave unto holiness, and to avoid the very appearance of evil. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. John 9:4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. Luke 2:49,50 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" • But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. John 11:4,40 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." • Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Luke 4:22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" Revelation 5:9,10 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. • "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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