1 Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
This is going to shock you I know, but I was a cheerleader in high school. Even though I was in school a veeeerrrrrryyyyy long time ago, I can still remember some of the cheers we did such as: “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y that’s our Cougar battle cry!” Battle cries unify, fortify, and encourage our allies while simultaneously intimidating, warning, and instilling fear in the enemy. When an army is preparing for battle, they don’t just line their soldiers up and wish them luck and send them on their way. That would obviously be extremely foolish. Instead, they prepare their soldiers for battle by teaching them strategy, how to follow orders, how to use a gun, how to fight and protect themselves and their fellow soldiers, among many other important things vital to know in preparing for war. In Ephesians 6:11-13 we read that as believers we are in a very real battle and that we need to arm ourselves with the full Armor of God. We also know that we do not need to fear, because when God calls us to fulfill a specific task or purpose, He will equip us with the exact tools needed to fulfill His plan. Most importantly, God has promised us the victory.
When I was a little girl, I can remember singing in church with my whole heart the old hymn Victory in Jesus:
“Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and 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”
I remember, as a little girl, thinking I could never lose. There was no such thing as defeat, God had promised me the victory, hear me ROAR! Imagine my surprise, when God allowed me to experience defeat, to know loss and brokenness intimately – all the while, asking me to trust Him, turn to Him, lean on Him. Lessons I learned through defeat include: God redeems our sorrow. God redeems our defeat. God redeems me. Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
It’s important to note that what we might consider a loss or defeat, does not necessarily mean that God considers it a loss or defeat. Sometimes He just uses those circumstances to move us to where we need to be. Let’s go back to Joseph. Think of him in that pit and the caravan that came at just the right time – was it the rescue he would have asked for? Absolutely not. But was it the rescue that put him exactly where God planned for him to be? Absolutely. Over and over we see Joseph “lose” and over and over we see God give him the victory. All too often we quit at the first sign of defeat, the first sign of hard, the first speedbump, the first obstacle. God hasn’t called us to defeat. He hasn’t called us to quit. Chin up Buttercup, buckle up, do what you need to do to lock in and focus on securing the “W.” Remember where your Help comes from, remember Who gives you strength. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
We fight with eternity in mind. We fight knowing we are on the winning side. We fight knowing we have no need to fear in life or in death because our God has conquered death, restored our relationship with Him, and desires for all to come to a saving knowledge of Him. Suit up and give Him your best ROAR as you head into battle – the battle is the Lord’s.
1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Read: 1 Corinthians 15
Consider: Can you think of an example in the Bible where it looked like someone was defeated only to come back with an epic win?
Do: What can you do to ensure that you are battle ready?
Prayer: Write out a prayer and ask God to give you the victory over any sin in your life and to help you be the Warrior and Conqueror that He has called you to be.
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