True Victory In The World

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When we are offended with God because someone treated us poorly, a situation turned out painfully, we were rejected by people who should have loved us, or we actually failed, we are always tempted to go back to our old life and retrace our steps.

John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

Jesus corrected Peter out of this thinking. There is no going back while still staying faithful to Jesus. If you go back to your old life, loves, pursuits, etc. trying to vindicate yourself, instead of THROUGH the pain of rejection for following Jesus' ways, called the cross, you cannot be saved.

There is no option for being a good, innocent, attractive victim in God's kingdom. There are no victims in Jesus' kingdom, only those who signed up for the mistreatment and giving up of control that comes with following Jesus. Christians are the only truly victorious people because all of their pain picks up purpose in Jesus. Everyone suffers pain. Followers of Jesus suffer it with Jesus, HIs way, and unto God's ends. He works ALL things for their good.

You are either picking Jesus' life and all that means, or rejecting it. By far most will reject it. ESPECIALLY when it costs us our sense of acceptability, relationships, status, or earthly enjoyment.

John 21:15-23 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." (17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. (18) Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." (19) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." (20) Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" (21) Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" (22) Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." (23) Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?"

If you love the things of this world, you are rejecting Jesus. If this world disappoints you, its because you loved it more than the God who is soveriegn over it. If you go back to things you walked away from trying to feel better about who you are, what you are about, or what your life means because God allowed a curve in your life you weren't expecting, then you are failing the test of love. We only love Him when we receive His love for us. His love comes packaged in tribulaiton because our world hates His love.

Do we?

Mark 4:18-19 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Leave the old life completely behind. Whatever God allows to happen, walk forward through it into the new person you are becoming. Trying to prove to the world you are still good in its eyes is a fool's errand. The world doesn't care about Jesus. It only loves its own. If you are becoming a part of His body, this is a necessary cost. Be a witness of who you are becoming and you will shine the beauty of the One... the only One... who really does care completely about who you are!

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