Victory in Jesus

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

This week we wrap up summer camp at Streams. Over the past five weeks we have talked about teamwork, attitude, integrity, purpose, and endurance. With each topic and Bible story we were reminded that God is on our side. Just as God loved and helped David, Moses, Noah, Daniel and Nehemiah, he loves and cares for us as well. His love for us is perfectly seen in the life and death of Jesus. So as we conclude summer camp we finish with the word victory.

Victory comes in many different shapes and sizes. Winning sports games, acing a test, getting a first job or a promotion, reaching a new personal record, and beating cancer are just a few examples of what victory can look like in our lives. However, sometimes it feels like we aren’t winning at all. There are seasons when all we can see are losses, pain, and challenges. But even when struggles compound and any kind of win seems impossible, God is on our side. Jesus reminds us that we are never without hope because we share in his victory.

Christ humbled himself and became human, so that he could bring us salvation. In his life and death, he took the weight of our sin and pain on himself and replaced it with forgiveness and grace. Through his resurrection, Jesus had the ultimate victory. He defeated sin and death once and for all so that we might be reconciled to God our Father and experience everlasting life with him.

As believers we share that victory with Jesus. It does not mean that life will be perfect. On this side of eternity we will still face pain, loss, and suffering. However, we do not face any of them alone or without hope. As 1 Corinthians 15:57 reminds us, we can thank God because “he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. As the traditional hymn “Victory in Jesus” states, our Lord sought us, bought us and loved us before he even knew us. Therefore, we can await Christ’s return with hope. Even on the hard days, we can look forward to the time when God will wipe away all tears, and there will be no more death, crying or pain (Revelation 21:3-4). That is what it looks like to experience true victory.

So, as you go throughout your week, hold tight to your victory in Jesus. When struggles overwhelm, remind yourself that Jesus is on your side and with him you will experience victory. Think of someone in your life who needs to be reminded of the victory they have in Jesus. How can you reach out to them this week?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, We thank you for always being on our side and for the love you showed us in sending your son. When we struggle to see beyond our struggles, remind us that we share in Christ’s victory. May the truth of his resurrection give us the hope we need to carry on. As we do, give us eyes to see people in our lives who need to be reminded of your love for them. We pray this in the name of your son, in whom we have victory, Amen.

Makalah Scholten
Spiritual Care Coordinator

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