Live as a Conqueror

"The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD

stopped in the middle of the Jordan

and stood on dry ground,

while all Israel passed by until the whole nation

had completed the crossing on dry ground."

Joshua 3:17

I wonder if Joshua stood at the banks of the swollen Jordan River, the only thing standing between his people and the land God had promised them, and wondered how he would lead his people across?  Sure, the two spies were able to negotiate the raging river, he might have thought, but they were young, strong, and unencumbered.  The multitudes I am responsible for carry all their belongings with them.  There are mothers with young children and tiny babies, livestock and inexperienced men and women; so much to make us vulnerable.

Then the words of the Lord must have fortified his heart as he reminded himself of the truth.  Be strong and courageous.  Don't be discouraged or afraid because God is with me. He told me I would lead these people into the promised land.  He didn't tell me how I would lead them; He only said I would lead them.  I must trust God to negotiate this obstacle for me. (Joshua 1:1-11)

Like Joshua, there is much in life to dishearten me and cause me to question.  How will I make it until the next paycheck?  When will the pain stop?  What will it take to mend my broken family?  It's easy to have many questions but no answers.  I want to trust God but I may think, I just don't see how He can work this out.

There is no obstacle so great that it can separate me from the promises of God.  Just as He went so far as to stop the flow of the flooding Jordan River in order to deliver His people to the land He had given to them, there is nothing so great a barrier as to keep me from my promised land. As Moses reminded the people of Israel when they were trapped between the approaching Egyptian army and the Red sea, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). 

No Enemy Too Great

He must have felt like the world was out to get him.  First, he was sold into slavery by his own brothers.  Then, his master's wife falsely accused him of rape and he was thrown into prison.  As if that weren't enough, he languished there for 8 years when he finally thought he'd get a break.  He interpreted the dreams of two prisoners, pleading with them to put in a good word for him, but they obviously forgot about him.  Finally, a couple years later, Joseph was summoned to the Pharaoh to try to decode the message of the ruler's haunting dreams.  Finally, his day had come! (Genesis 37, 39-41)

Joseph didn't do anything to deserve the treatment he received.  He must have sometimes felt as if he had an enemy too great to resist.  How else could so many bad things happen to him?  Someone must be waging war against him.

While this was not the case for Joseph, it is for me.  As a follower of Christ, I do have an enemy; a foe who is prowling, ". . . around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan's mission here on earth is to, "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).  As he wages war against me, planting seeds of doubt in my heart, sending people to rise up against me, setting up obstacles designed to dishearten me, I can take courage with the truth that, "If God is for [me], who can be against [me]" (Romans 8:31)?

God went so far as to send His beloved Son to the earth He created, placing Him in the hands of wicked men in order to conquer sin and death for me.  If He was willing to go to such lengths in order to defeat such formidable enemies, is anything impossible or off-limits for Him (Romans 8:32)?

Therefore, I can trust Him to fight my battles for me.  Even though the doctors say I have two months to live, cancer is no match for the Great Physician.  If the mounting debt threatens to bring me down, I can take heart in the thought that my heavenly Father has resources about which I know nothing.  When strife seems to rule my home, driving out the peace, I can trust God to soften the brittle hearts of those I love.

There is no enemy so great that God is not stronger still.

No Charge too Formidable

I wanted to defend myself against the ridiculous rumors floating around the neighborhood.  A couple of the kids in our afterschool program alerted me to the gossip they had heard about me.  "Mrs. Boose, the story is that you are having an affair with another man and have been meeting him up at the pool."  

At first I laughed at the absurdity of the idea.  "If I were going to cheat on you," I asked my husband, "why would I do it at the neighborhood pool?"  Clearly, this was a tale cooked up by a child, but the fallout could be disastrous.  My name could potentially be slandered to the point that I could lose credibility as a neighborhood volunteer and teacher in our home-based outreach program.  What if people believe this lie?  It could really bring damage to my reputation and ultimately bring shame upon the name of the Lord.

Thankfully, God protected me from harm, shielding both my good standing and His holy name.  I never had to say a word in my defense.  Instead, God revealed the truth over time and the lies faded away.

God is the only One who can justify.  Since He is in charge of fighting my battles for me, there is no need for me to try to prove my innocence when accusations fly.  Instead, I can rest in the hands of my perfect Defender. 

Furthermore, since I have Jesus as my defense lawyer, I never need to worry that my sin might condemn me to death.  There is no transgression so great that the blood of Jesus cannot cover.  Through his sacrifice, then, I find peace with God even though I've been convicted as one who has fallen short of His standard. (Romans 8:33-34, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

What, then, can man say to diminish my standing with God?  If I've already been pardoned from the worst, what more can be said or done against me?  Let the accusations fly because I've been appointed the best defense Counsel ever known to mankind (1 Timothy 2:5)!

Therefore, what's a little heartache at the hands of another in the here and now?  Even if I land in prison based on the word of another, my eternal reward is still intact.  Despite the fact that I may lose my job due to the false testimony of a coworker, my place in God's kingdom is not diminished in the least.  Regardless of whether or not my loved ones believe in my innocence, my Father only sees the purity of heart He originally created for me and is now possible through the blood of Jesus.

There is no charge so formidable that God cannot justify.

No Hurdle too High

I wanted nothing more than for the struggle to be over.  I was tired of living a frugal life and looked forward to a day when money would be plentiful, when a trip to the grocery store was not an exercise in restraint and when gifts for others didn't have to be homemade.  I had grown weary of the fight.

As I sat with the Lord one morning, asking Him again to deliver us from the latest problem, He showed me the error of my ways.  To state it more accurately, He showed me the corruption of my heart.

Instead of seeing all I could buy without money, I chose to pay attention to what I couldn't have.  While God had prepared a veritable feast for me, I still preferred to dine at the pauper's table (Isaiah 55:1-2).  Even though I am abounding in the love my Father has lavished upon me, I focused mainly on the difficulties(1 John 3:1). Although God's mercies are new every morning, making it possible for me to live a rich and meaningful life filled with peace, I ignored those treasures and looked mainly at my disappointments(Lamentations 3:22-24).

It's easy to get caught up in a cycle of seeing what I don't have instead of what I do.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I not only have the assurance of eternal life, but I also have the security of knowing there is nothing that can separate me from the astounding love of God.  This love can propel me through any hardship, satisfy in ways the world cannot, and bolster my faint heart in the midst of calamity (Romans 8:35-36). The love of God should be my most prized possession because it is what best defines Him(1 John 4:16).

There is no hurdle so high that the love of God is not higher still.

Life is hard.  I am constantly faced with those who seem out to get me, with accusations that seem impossible against which to defend, and difficulties that threaten to block God's love from my life.  Thankfully, there is no obstacle so great that God is not bigger still.  This day, then, I desire to live the life of a perfectly protected, eternally justified, and wholly loved conqueror!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will focus on what God has done instead of what I think is lacking.

When does my enemy seem formidable?

How do I live as a victim instead of as one who has God as her Warrior?


Originally published on February 18, 2014

Calvary's Triumph

Today's devotion is an excerpt from "52 Days of Grace," a daily devotional based on the book of Romans.  It is my hope this book will be a useful tool in helping you grow closer to God as you walk with Him.

Calvary’s Triumph

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
  ruin and misery mark their ways,
  and the way of peace they do not know.”
 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.  Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Romans 3:15-20

A few years ago I made a list on a poster of some of the laws found in the Old Testament.   I was  attempting to illustrate to a class of elementary and middle school students the futility of trying to earn my righteousness by following the rules God gave us to outline His high standards for living.  As we went down the list, we talked about whether or not we had completely obeyed that law 100% of the time, which is His expectation for us.  If we were honest with ourselves, we admitted we were utter failures in living our lives to God’s standard.  How hopeless we felt!   How powerless against our flesh and inability to do the right thing.

 

If that was the end of the story, we would all be without hope indeed.  But that is not the end, in fact that is only the beginning.  The law only exists to show us where we need a Savior to bridge the gap between our imperfection and God’s perfection, between our wretchedness and God’s holiness, between our inadequacy and God’s sufficiency.   And Jesus is that Savior! 

Preacher Larry McGuill spoke to the importance of putting our trust in Jesus, not in our own efforts of following the law.   He said, “It is the rightful heritage of every believer, even the newest in the family of faith, to be absolutely certain that eternal life is his present possession.  To look to self is to tremble.  To look to Calvary’s finished work is triumph.”

We can stand as victors in the battle Christ waged against sin on our behalf.   As recipients of this unspeakable gift of salvation, we are called to live as conquerors.  We are not called to try to be perfect in an effort to impress God and others with our righteousness.  Instead, we are called to submit ourselves to our Father’s will, knowing He has already accepted us as His children, made perfect by the blood of His Son.   The battle against the power of sin is already won!

Following the Law is Futile, Following the Savior offers Freedom

Have I trusted in Jesus as my Savior from the punishment of death my sins deserve?

As one who is saved by the blood of Jesus, have a made Him Lord of my life?

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to take my punishment for my sins so I can enjoy a relationship with You, a holy God.  As one who claims to follow You, I desire to walk more closely with You, seeking to please You in all my ways.  I ask for help in following Jesus in my daily walk.

I pray these things in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

To learn how to order a copy of "52 Days of Grace" for yourself, follow this link.  This daily devotional is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback.

Life Sucks!



“ '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, like all humans, have a lot of problems.  My body is wearing out as I grow older, money is tight, family relationships are strained at times, people can be mean and hurtful, friends move away, loved ones die. . . and this is not  to even mention that my belief in Jesus places me in conflict with the principles of this world.  Put this all together, and the conclusion is that life is hard!  

But we can't say we weren't warned.  Jesus prepared us for the opposition we would receive from those who don't know Him.  But we can take comfort in knowing that He has gone before us, and in conquering the power of death and sin when He died on the cross, He also conquered our problems.   All the difficulties that I face in this world have already been defeated by Jesus!  There is nothing I can face that Jesus has not already succeeded in conquering. 

Jesus warned us about the harsh realities of following Him in a world that hates Him.  He did this so that we would ultimately understand the power that is within us.

The World Hates Us

It was important for Jesus to help us understand that we won't be accepted by those who don't know Him.  In America, persecution is limited to financial retribution or shunning, banishment or exclusion from certain segments of society.  But in other parts of the world, persecution means forced labor, poor living conditions, arrests, beatings and even death.  There is no mistaking that the world hates us as much as it hated Jesus when He walked the earth.

Why would anyone want to follow One who puts me in that position of being hated?  "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Jesus is my only hope for a relationship with my Father in heaven, and deliverance from the penalty of death my sin earns.  Without Jesus, I have an eternity devoid of all good and filled with unthinkable suffering. 

Hatred from the world is a small price to pay for this unspeakable gift!  But how can I withstand the difficulties without buckling under the pressure or spend my life huddled in the corner like a quivering mass of gelatin?

We are Conquerors

Living in a world that opposes everything I believe in does not mean I have to live my life in fear or as a second-class citizen.  In my heart, I can go through the difficulties of life with the quiet confidence that Jesus displayed.  He did not panic, lash out in anger, or run away from His accusers.  This is because He knew the plan, and He knew that in the end, His love wins!

The apostle Paul addressed the root of this attitude of triumph.  In Romans 8, his words remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.  Not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. (v 35)  That pretty much covers anything we can face during a lifetime.  Knowing that the overwhelming love of God is constantly with me can give me courage.  And that is how I can face my problems as a conqueror.

When I think of a conqueror, I imagine a Roman soldier living in Jesus' time.  Even though he is from a foreign land, he would exhibit an attitude of confidence and assurance, knowing that Caesar and the entire Roman Army would back him up.  He had a sense of security and authority given to him as a member of the conquering force in that strange place so far from home.

This is to be my attitude as a follower of Christ in this foreign land.  I have God and His sovereign power to back me up!  He has given me a sense of security and authority as a member of the conquering force.  That is why Paul could teach us that in the face of the difficulties of this life, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)  Jesus' love conquered all so I need not fear.

Even though I am a conquering, I do have enemies.  And these enemies will stop at nothing to try to defeat me.  How can I have any hope this side of heaven?

Greater Power Within

I used to compete in bodybuilding.  One year, I was sponsored by one of the top gyms in my region.  Their name (Powerhouse) held clout in the bodybuilding community and being associated with them, I felt the power of being one of their competitors.  Sure enough, when it came time for the judging, I placed higher than I ever had, due in part to the sponsorship of Powerhouse.

Imagine having the most powerful Being, the Creator of all things, living within you!  Reading in 1 John 4:4, we learn that we can live with confidence in Satan's domain because, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

I have the authority of the very power of God to guide me through the evil of this world.  Satan and his angels can try to bring me down, but their power pales in the face of that which is in me through faith in Christ Jesus.  I must always remember that in the end, "every knee should bow, 

Living life in this world is difficult.  As one pastor of a megachurch in my home state of Washington would often say, "Life Sucks!"  But we are not without hope, even thought he world hates us, we are more than conquerors and have the power of God within us.  Then I can confidently say,  "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I would remember the power that is within me when I am overwhelmed by that which is around me.

How do I focus too much on the problems, forgetting that I have the solution within me?

When do I live as the conquered, instead of as a conqueror through faith in Jesus?