Gaining victory
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.1 John 5:1-5
In this world, we are surrounded by pressures that will either bring endurance that leads to victory or compromise that leads to spiritual defeat. This world offers popularity and social acceptance but do not care how you obtain them as long as you achieved what satisfies your selfish desires. The world, as John described it, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; all this is of the world (1 John 2:16). How do you overcome the world? How can you manifest the life of Christ while dealing with the pressures of the world? “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith” (v. 4). John says, by faith to the one you trusted your life with and by faith to the one who is at work moment by moment providing you His life to counter the pressures around you. Jesus promised that when you trust Him, He will help you carry your burden. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The key to faithful living is to focus on the goal that God had set for your life. If you live simply for the moment you will never make any progress and you will wander aimlessly. For a while it may seem like fun, but eventually you will wake up to find that you are empty and lost. You need to remind yourself over and over that this life is not all there is. Paul said, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:12-16).
Blessings,
