Overcome; First John

May the mumbling commence!

It is hard to believe that our thirty days in First John are finished with today’s reading.  I have a great appreciation for the Word of God contained in this letter.  Tomorrow, we will move to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Yesterday, we talked about the anointing that we receive.  With that anointing, we can be assured that we can overcome anything that comes our way.  To overcome is another theme in First John.  Have no fear.  Christ’s work and our faith in that work have overcome.  Read some passages from First John that help define overcoming:

I write to you, fathers,

because you have known him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children,

because you have known the Father. 

I write to you, fathers,

because you have known him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one. (2:13-14)  

How do we become strong enough to overcome?  Invite the Word of God into your life.  There’s that anointing that I was talking about yesterday.  With that anointing, we are forever green and flowering and producing fruit for the Lord.  Overcome.  Read further:

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. (4:4)

We have overcome the antichrist… because the One who is in us (the anointing from the Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is in the world.  That is a comforting thought.  No matter what happens, our eternal life in God is protected by the strongest of spirits.  And that spirit is love.  Read some more:

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (5:3-5)

Return the love of God in kind, and be born anew.  See the world with a new and fresh perspective.  See the miracles that surround you every day.  Then, you will be able to overcome the deceptions of this world.

Victory is sure when we put our faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Alleluia!  Praise the Lord!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out