MORE THAN CONQUERORS*by C. R. Stam *

MORE THAN CONQUERORS*
*by C. R. Stam *
*
Two boys fight in a back alley. Fists fly. Shouts go up from the other
youngsters standing by. "Give it to 'im! Let 'im have it!"
Finally one of the two struts away with an arrogant bearing, head and
shoulders wagging. He has won!
But has he? Look at him. He has a bloody nose, a black eye and welts on
his face and arms. And if looks could kill he wouldn't even be alive,
for while his friends shout his praises, the boy he has beaten gives him
a look that says: "Just wait." He has not won anything except, perhaps,
a bitter and lasting enemy.
So it is with the wars that nations wage against each other. Necessary
as it sometimes becomes to defend our liberties, our homes, our way of
life, by force of arms, seldom does any nation actually win the war.
Rather all lose, even the "victors," as in their "victories" they sow
the bitterness and hate which are the seeds of future wars.
It is different, however, with "the good fight of [the] faith," for the
Christian may come out of every battle stronger than when he went in.
Only the Christian can say with regard to the heartaches and
disappointments, the difficulties and obstacles, that cross his path:
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved
us" (Rom. 8:37).
During Paul's busy ministry for Christ he suffered a painful "thorn in
the flesh," and "besought the Lord thrice" that it might be taken away.
The Lord did not see fit to remove the thorn, but answered Paul:
"My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness" (II Cor. 12:9).
Paul's response:
"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me... for when I am weak, then am I
strong" (Vers. 9,10).
Let all go well, and we are prone to grow careless in our Christian
lives. Adversity, on the other hand, makes Christians lean the harder
and pray the more -- and therein lies their strength and their victory.
*
Lord help us this day to take the time to thank you and to appreciate
what you mean to us and all that you do for us each moment of the day.
With your hand you have made us, with your blood you have cleansed us
and healed us. Thank you for leading us, protecting us and abiding in
us. Oh how precious it is to know you and have fellowship with you
today. Yes, once again, I lift my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh
my help.You are my God and there is none other. Amen
*by C. R. Stam *
*
Two boys fight in a back alley. Fists fly. Shouts go up from the other
youngsters standing by. "Give it to 'im! Let 'im have it!"
Finally one of the two struts away with an arrogant bearing, head and
shoulders wagging. He has won!
But has he? Look at him. He has a bloody nose, a black eye and welts on
his face and arms. And if looks could kill he wouldn't even be alive,
for while his friends shout his praises, the boy he has beaten gives him
a look that says: "Just wait." He has not won anything except, perhaps,
a bitter and lasting enemy.
So it is with the wars that nations wage against each other. Necessary
as it sometimes becomes to defend our liberties, our homes, our way of
life, by force of arms, seldom does any nation actually win the war.
Rather all lose, even the "victors," as in their "victories" they sow
the bitterness and hate which are the seeds of future wars.
It is different, however, with "the good fight of [the] faith," for the
Christian may come out of every battle stronger than when he went in.
Only the Christian can say with regard to the heartaches and
disappointments, the difficulties and obstacles, that cross his path:
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved
us" (Rom. 8:37).
During Paul's busy ministry for Christ he suffered a painful "thorn in
the flesh," and "besought the Lord thrice" that it might be taken away.
The Lord did not see fit to remove the thorn, but answered Paul:
"My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness" (II Cor. 12:9).
Paul's response:
"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me... for when I am weak, then am I
strong" (Vers. 9,10).
Let all go well, and we are prone to grow careless in our Christian
lives. Adversity, on the other hand, makes Christians lean the harder
and pray the more -- and therein lies their strength and their victory.
*
Lord help us this day to take the time to thank you and to appreciate
what you mean to us and all that you do for us each moment of the day.
With your hand you have made us, with your blood you have cleansed us
and healed us. Thank you for leading us, protecting us and abiding in
us. Oh how precious it is to know you and have fellowship with you
today. Yes, once again, I lift my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh
my help.You are my God and there is none other. Amen