The Vanquished Become the Victors
John 14:30 I will not talk with you much longer. The ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me.
Every now and then something bad happens and it will hurt … and yes, we’ll grieve and that’s entirely as it should be. But then the temptation is to relive that loss over and over again. In fact, some people never move on.
Down through history the world over, we see the same story repeated again and again. One nation invades another nation. One people group subjugates another people group.
The human story, it would seem, is the story of the victor and the vanquished, the winner and the loser.
Today, in my little neck of the woods, is Australia Day. In India, it’s Independence Day. Each country seems to have one day when it remembers something of its history and, almost always, that day has something to do with winning and losing.
And that doesn’t just happen on a geo-political scale. It happens just as powerfully, just as hurtfully sometimes, on a deeply personal level as well.
There are sadly so many people wandering around today … I hope you don’t mind me putting it as bluntly as this … wallowing in their loss, allowing what they’ve lost to define who they are, how they feel and what their future will look like.
Just before He was crucified, Jesus said this to His disciples:
John 14:30 I will not talk with you much longer. The ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me.
He was about to be nailed brutally to a cross; to suffer beyond words. But He refused to play the victim. He refused to feel sorry for Himself. He refused to allow what others would think of “this ‘loser’ hanging on that cross” to define Him.You and I will suffer loss in this world – that much is certain. So don’t let the loss define you. Don’t wallow in your past. Simply refuse.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond
Dawn Cvitk
So true… I needed this reminder thank you!
So true… I needed this reminder thank you!
Marylee
I listen to this and it is so uplifting!! Thank you !!
I listen to this and it is so uplifting!! Thank you !!
Marie Seymour
That is very interesting as I have just lost my mum and I watched her suffer and waste away I stayed with her and tried ...
more
That is very interesting as I have just lost my mum and I watched her suffer and waste away I stayed with her and tried to comfort her in her last days, and now she has gone because I feel peace for my mum I have a tendency to try and relive the pain and make myself grieve even though I have found peace in the knowledge that mum is with Jesus now, I know I must stop this and will try and focus on making the best off my life in mums honour.
Kind wishes Marie Seymour