1 John 5:4-5 - Overcoming the world

Scripture:

1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
NASU


Thoughts:

We are victorious in Christ!  The world is not the master of the Christian (verse 5), nor is anyone in it.  Our lives are hidden in God, and directed by Him, the Faithful One.

The nature of our victory though, perhaps confuses many.  We are not victorious necessarily in any physical way, but God has set us free on the inside.  It is our faith that overcomes (verse 4).  We no longer need to fear what those in the world fear.  We know that our lives are directed by Him and that we have an inheritance waiting for us that will never pass away -- even in death, we are blessed. 

Though in this world we may be considered among the least of men, in the true economy of God's universe, we know that we have been given the highest honor:  to be children of the one, true, living God.  Praise be to Him!


Prayer:

Lord, let me truly believe what You've said:  I have overcome the world in You!

Deliver me from doubt and discouragement.  Set my eyes on what is true, not what I see around me.  Help me to walk in faith.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.