June 23
Bible Reading: Romans 8
Romans 8:35-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
No one would have deemed Jesus a conqueror, and no one could have foreseen His ultimate triumph, when the cosmic powers of this present darkness were zealously workng to do Him harm. One apparent defeat led to another and then yet another. The religious leaders had long conspired against Him. Then He was betrayed by one closest to Him and was arrested. In His moment of need, He was abandoned by His closest friends, though they had promised their undying allegiance. An unjust trial with lying witnesses led to His deliverance to the governor. Yet He refused to make any kind of defense. Given a choice, the crowds chose to release Barabbas instead of Him. And then that same crowd was incited by the leaders to cry out for His crucifixion. Any faint glimmer of hope which remained was soon eclipsed in the forthcoming events. He was scourged, stripped of His clothing, mocked as they adorned His head with a crown of thorns. They spat on Him and mocked Him and led Him away to the cross. The Scriptures declare “cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree,” yet that’s exactly where He found Himself. He came to His own and His own received Him not. Instead, they mocked Him–the soldiers, the religious leaders, the thieves crucified with Him and those passing by. He was utterly alone and forsaken, ultimately abandoned by the One with whom He has shared divine and eternal fellowship, His own Father was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief. It was the most ghastly and horrific of scenes in all the annals of human history. And no human witness on that day could have imagined what would soon come to pass. All was seemingly lost–the mission, the man, the hope for a deliverer. If it were a modern sporting event, the hometown crowd would have long before proceeded for the exits.
Yet things are not always as they appear to be, and that’s especially true when we factor in God’s power and love. The death of Christ on the cross was not a victory for the forces of evil at all–far from it–it was the very means by which their defeat was assured. Unwittingly, they had only worked “to do whatever (God’s) hand and (God’s) plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:28)! There could be no greater defeat than if man had prevailed to murder his maker, but the grave was powerless to hold Him and a cursed cross soon gave way to an opened tomb, when defeat and triumph traded places. History has witnessed no greater triumph than Calvary’s victory over sin, and death, and the devil himself!
So, the believer follows in the footsteps of Jesus. To “suffer with Him” is the path to which they are called (Romans 8:17). And as with the Master, so it is with those who follow in His steps. Every heavenward step is met with opposition. The forces of evil are always working to tempt and accuse. The narrow way is filled with peaks and valleys and unexpected turns. Failures mount up. Burdens grow. Discouragement is either near at hand or just beyond the horizon. Sometimes things look an awful lot like defeat. Even though all glimmers of hope might be lost, it never truly is! In His death and resurrection, Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15)! His triumph is yours too! You became more than a conqueror the moment you put your faith in Jesus! No matter what comes your way in the here and now, no matter how bleak things might seem, you are forever victorious through Him who has loved you!
“If we barely manage to win our way to heaven by the skin of our teeth, we could be said to be a conqueror, but a ‘more than conqueror’ is someone who takes the worst that life can throw at him and uses that to become victorious. ‘More than conqueror’ is one who, by the grace and the gift of God, and in the strength of God within him, actually takes the very things that are designed to destroy him, and they become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. That is being ‘More than conquerors.’”
Ray Stedman
“In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me
And I heard about His groaning
Of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory
O victory in Jesus
My Savior, forever
He sought me and He bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood
LookingtoJesus 