By Randal Metheny
The obvious ceases to be obvious when we listen
to voices that are misinformed or spouting false
teaching.
It was the latter who were bellowing in the first
century, leaving the true children of God
confused, when John wrote his first letter. “You
are from God, little children, and have conquered
them, because the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4.4).
Excuse me for repeating this so often, but God is
in us when we obey the word of Christ (John
14.23). In a dissolute and perverse world (as it
has always been), which gives itself,
unrestrained, over to carnal passions and
personal pleasures, the followers of Christ do
God’s will and receive in their hearts the
presence of the Lord
Through his living in us, his power works to give.
us the victory. If we do not have the victory
(note: the verb conquered is in the past tense!),
we need to ask ourselves why. It is entirely
possible that we are still rebelling against
complete obedience to the Lord.
In what area do we still refuse to submit ourselves to hi
will? Or perhaps we do not recognize the nature of thi
victory.
It is not freedom from trials and suffering, nor is it
comfortable financial situation or a healthy body. Th
victory does not consist of physical comfort.
We have victory when our hearts are secure in God an
spiritual peace possesses us, even when the storms of lif
throw their worst upon our heads.
We enter into victory because God is greater than the ev
one and because he is within us, reigning in and over us.
Groveland, FL