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 Jeremiah 16:20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods.One great besetting sin of ancient Israel was idolatry, and the spiritual Israel are vexed with a tendency to the same folly. Remphan's star shines no longer, and the women weep no more for Tammuz, but Mammon still intrudes his golden calf, and the shrines of pride are not forsaken. Self in various forms struggles to subdue the chosen ones under its dominion, and the flesh sets up its altars wherever it can find space for them. Favourite children are often the cause of much sin in believers; the Lord is grieved when he sees us doting upon them above measure; they will live to be as great a curse to us as Absalom was to David, or they will be taken from us to leave our homes desolate. If Christians desire to grow thorns to stuff their sleepless pillows, let them dote on their dear ones. It is truly said that "they are no gods," for the objects of our foolish love are very doubtful blessings, the solace which they yield us now is dangerous, and the help which they can give us in the hour of trouble is little indeed. Why, then, are we so bewitched with vanities? We pity the poor heathen who adore a god of stone, and yet worship a god of gold. Where is the vast superiority between a god of flesh and one of wood? The principle, the sin, the folly is the same in either case, only that in ours the crime is more aggravated because we have more light, and sin in the face of it. The heathen bows to a false deity, but the true God he has never known; we commit two evils, inasmuch as we forsake the living God and turn unto idols. May the Lord purge us all from this grievous iniquity! "The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be; Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee." Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.Psalm 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Daniel 9:21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. Psalm 27:9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Psalm 22:19 But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. Jeremiah 32:17 'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, 2 Corinthians 1:10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, Luke 18:7,8 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? • "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on 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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