The word for the week is Overcome. If you read “Don’t get it twisted: Being a minister”, I am down to the last three applicants for my bodyguards. I should be making a decision and posting “Dont get it twisted pt.2: Wealth” this weekend if nothing comes up. For this post, we will take a look at recognizing what we have to overcome when we are faced with challenges.
1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
We often talk about being over comers and victorious living. There are various things in life that we attempt to overcome as we wait for our “breakthrough”. But this scripture let’s us know that there is already a promise made to us. That if we are born again, being born of God then we have already overcome the world. The key, however, is that we must be born of God. Let us take a look at some examples of how we understand that we are born of God.
1 John 4:6-8 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. “
One of the most important characteristics that we are to show that we are born of God is love. When Christ was being questioned about what the greatest commandment is, Jesus’ reply was that we first love God, and second that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is how those who are not born of God learn to see God; through us as we love one another. In the aforementioned verses, we see John discussing that everyone that exhibits love in this way is born of God. This also includes love for your enemies. Despite what people do or say to you, we must still show love towards all our neighbors without exclusion. Remember, God shows that love toward us. He causes the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust. He loved us enough to patiently wait as we make the decision to come into His kingdom. He loves us enough to chasten us when we are wrong to teach us and show us a better way at life. The root of it all is that He loves us. As we love Him, as we love ourselves, so should we also love our neighbors. This is an sign that you are born of God.
