world – Fearless Living

Today’s promise describes to us the power of faith in our lives and its effect on the world around us.

1 John 5:3-5 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Promise: God promises that faith in Jesus will overcome the world and that obedience to His Word shows my love for Him.

This promise is HUGE in God’s Word. Our faith in Jesus and His saving work on the cross holds the key to victory for us over sin that is present in our own lives and throughout the world. In these days where sin seems to be rampant and we see disrespect directed at those who profess faith, knowledge that our God is sovereign gives us true hope! We can be assured that God does reign and someday the words of Philippians 2:10-11 will be true. “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” He will overcome the world and will reign victorious.

What we know from these verses: my obedience to God’s Word demonstrates my love for Him, keeping God’s Word is not a burden for the believer, faith in Jesus gives power to live a victorious life, faith in Jesus is more powerful than the pull of sin, salvation from sin comes only through faith in Jesus.

Lenten Reflections: Am I showing God that I love Him by keeping His Word? As I studying God’s Word to know what it is He desires of me?

We think about God loving us and showing us how much He cares for us, but do we think about our love back to Him? This verse tell us that obedience is God’s love language. For those who love Him, He will see that they are victorious. Faith in Jesus is the key as it causes us to want to please and show our love for God. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know my faith in Jesus has power and I will be victorious in Him.

Linda

Related Verses: 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 119:33-37, Micah 6:8, John 14:15,21, John 16:33, Acts 4:12, Revelation 17:14.

Colossian 1:6b tells us what the Colossian Christians did with the hope they received from Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].” Amplified Bible

This verse shows the power of God to transform a world with the good news of Jesus. His death and resurrection turned the world upside down. The fruit he speaks of is the transformed lives of those followers that want to grow more and more like Jesus. They want to show His love to the world. John 13:34-45 tells us what happens when one embraces the Spirit of God “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” Love as the world had never known began to spread throughout the world. Just think, Jesus started with 12 disciples and then the news of the redemption, love, forgiveness and atonement of Jesus for the world began to spread. Amazing in a day with no internet, no phones or modern transportation, and yet God provided a way for the word of His Son to spread.

Who have you told lately about Jesus? Do you salt your conversations with words telling others of how God has blessed or guided you? How will someone know unless you tell or show them of God’s love? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I have a living and vibrant grace-filled faith to share with the world.

Linda