Week of Monday December 8 – December 14
Overcoming by Faith– Man as Chaplain
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:1-5 ESV
What an encouraging word the old Apostle John writes here in chapter 5. He’s talking about obeying the Lord as proof of our love and how those who are truly born again can overcome the world! I came across this story about overcoming that also encouraged me:
At the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At nine, his mother died. At twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. At twenty-three, he went into debt and became a partner in a small store. At twenty-six, his partner died leaving him a huge debt. By the age of thirty-five, he had been defeated twice when running for a seat in Congress. At the age of thirty-seven, he won the election. At thirty-nine, he lost his reelection bid. At forty- one, his four-year-old son died. At forty-two, he was rejected for a land officer role. At forty-five, he ran for the Senate and lost. At forty-seven, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President. At forty-nine, he ran for Senate again and lost again. At the age of fifty-one, he was elected President of the United States. During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on among the greats in U.S. history--Abraham Lincoln.
John was writing to believers in Jesus Christ who were facing insurmountable odds just to stand for their faith. To be identified with Jesus could cost them their very lives. John wanted to remind them that by walking in obedience, demonstrating our love for God and others, and living by faith they would enjoy spiritual victory in Jesus’ name and overcome the world! There is a marked difference in the life of the believer. John underscores, regardless of what happens, we are overcomers through and by our faith!
I have personally watched soldiers in battle who faced incredible odds and overcame them. They didn’t complain, cower or quit. They stood firm because they believed in what they were fighting for and they believed they were ready to engage the enemy. Just like Abraham Lincoln’s timeless example, they could have chosen to complain or even quit, but there was something in them that compelled them to advance. God has placed his Spirit within us, and He will enable us to overcome those overwhelming challenges.
Famed theologian and apologist C.S. Lewis once observed, “God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” You and I as men of God, men of faith, can find ourselves in a similar circumstance. We face a world that is far from God and at times seems out of control. The odds of making a difference seem insurmountable. Yet that is when our faith becomes an anchor for the soul. We are stirred by it, inspired with confidence and equipped for the battle ahead. By our love for the Lord and testimony of faith, let’s be overcomers!
- Would those in your family and your circle of friends describe you as a man of great faith in God? Are there areas of your life where your faith needs to grow stronger and more committed?
- Can you say that you are working to model and instill a deeper faith into those your life touches and influences?
- Pray and ask what the father of the demon possessed boy said to Jesus: “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Overcoming by Faith– Man as Chaplain
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:1-5 ESV
What an encouraging word the old Apostle John writes here in chapter 5. He’s talking about obeying the Lord as proof of our love and how those who are truly born again can overcome the world! I came across this story about overcoming that also encouraged me:
At the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At nine, his mother died. At twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. At twenty-three, he went into debt and became a partner in a small store. At twenty-six, his partner died leaving him a huge debt. By the age of thirty-five, he had been defeated twice when running for a seat in Congress. At the age of thirty-seven, he won the election. At thirty-nine, he lost his reelection bid. At forty- one, his four-year-old son died. At forty-two, he was rejected for a land officer role. At forty-five, he ran for the Senate and lost. At forty-seven, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President. At forty-nine, he ran for Senate again and lost again. At the age of fifty-one, he was elected President of the United States. During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on among the greats in U.S. history--Abraham Lincoln.
John was writing to believers in Jesus Christ who were facing insurmountable odds just to stand for their faith. To be identified with Jesus could cost them their very lives. John wanted to remind them that by walking in obedience, demonstrating our love for God and others, and living by faith they would enjoy spiritual victory in Jesus’ name and overcome the world! There is a marked difference in the life of the believer. John underscores, regardless of what happens, we are overcomers through and by our faith!
I have personally watched soldiers in battle who faced incredible odds and overcame them. They didn’t complain, cower or quit. They stood firm because they believed in what they were fighting for and they believed they were ready to engage the enemy. Just like Abraham Lincoln’s timeless example, they could have chosen to complain or even quit, but there was something in them that compelled them to advance. God has placed his Spirit within us, and He will enable us to overcome those overwhelming challenges.
Famed theologian and apologist C.S. Lewis once observed, “God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” You and I as men of God, men of faith, can find ourselves in a similar circumstance. We face a world that is far from God and at times seems out of control. The odds of making a difference seem insurmountable. Yet that is when our faith becomes an anchor for the soul. We are stirred by it, inspired with confidence and equipped for the battle ahead. By our love for the Lord and testimony of faith, let’s be overcomers!
- Would those in your family and your circle of friends describe you as a man of great faith in God? Are there areas of your life where your faith needs to grow stronger and more committed?
- Can you say that you are working to model and instill a deeper faith into those your life touches and influences?
- Pray and ask what the father of the demon possessed boy said to Jesus: “I believe; help my unbelief!”