All in 4 God by Megan Clinton

Author:Megan Clinton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Juvenile Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Life, Devotional, Religion, General, Religious
ISBN: 9780736947251
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2012-09-01T22:00:00+00:00

Overcomer

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

JOHN 16:33

I love watching my little brother play sports. He is really good. And he has also been very fortunate to play on a lot of winning teams. His baseball team finished fifth in the nation when he was just 11 years old.

I, on the other hand, have not been as fortunate. I have been on some losing teams through the years. The difference, though (and don’t tell Zach I said this), is that he takes losing a little harder than I did.

Losing in sports is one thing. Losing in life is quite another. Maybe you didn’t pass a test even though you studied like crazy for it. Or you applied for a job but didn’t get it, or a relationship didn’t work out, or you didn’t make a spot on a team or a choir. Life can be hard on us, but we don’t need to be hard on ourselves. I have come to learn the difference between losing and being a loser.

On several occasions, Jesus warned His disciples about His impending death on the cross. (Talk about hard times!) In today’s focus verse, we see Him adding something like this: “I’ve told you this now so you won’t fear, but rather will have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble—no question about it. But you’re in Me, and remember, I’ve overcome the world.”

I looked up the word overcome to see what Jesus was referring to. It means to prevail, conquer, or defeat. When we’re going through a difficult time and feel as if we’re losing in the game of life, how can we keep the attitude of a conqueror? It comes by faith (1 John 5:4). Our unshakable belief in Jesus gives us the spirit of a war hero so we can prevail and conquer in His name.

What we conquer, though, is not physical things, but things like sin, hopelessness, sadness, brokenness, defeat…all of the emotions that tear us apart. We conquer lies, like the belief that our mistakes make us losers. You and I will mess up sometimes. After all, we’re human. Satan sneers when we degrade ourselves, and he enjoys seeing people hurt us. The devil loves it when we believe that we are losers, that we’re stuck, that we’re not good enough.

I know life’s not fair. It never will be. But this does not change the most powerful truth: We are already on the side of the true winner. Through Christ, we can prevail over the label loser.

Jesus has overcome the world. When He chose to come to earth and live as a man (Philippians 2:7-8), never sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and then die on the cross and rise again so all who believe will live (Colossians 1:20,22), He won. And He didn’t just win a gold medal and take a victory lap. He defeated death. And when we are in Him, we win too.

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