Heavenly Father, I admit I don’t usually feel much like a “super-conqueror” would feel. But I realize that the more I focus on what You have done, rather than worrying about what I have done, the more I sense the freedom to feel victorious. Thank You for being the decisive factor in every battle I face. Remind me to keep trusting You in the battles I face today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Great Victory

13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. —Colossians 2:13-15

When God wins, He wins big time. This is no overtime, squeak-it-out victory. Not like they call it in soccer when they have that penalty kick thing—the shootout. This is no shootout victory where you get one penalty shot and the ball dribbles in, but it was really a tie. God doesn’t operate like that. When God wins the battle, the contest is over.

With each painful step to Calvary, Jesus was taking on “the principalities and powers” that waved “the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.” Satan had an open-and-shut case against us—we were toast. But Colossians 2:14tells us thatwhen Jesus won the victory on the cross,“He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (nkjv).It’s like, “BEAT YOU!” That’s the way God wins. I love that because I really like winning. When it came to settling our eternal destiny, God’s not like, “Well, good game.” He’s like, in your face, standing on your chest, “You LOST! Just like I TOLD you!” That’s the way God wins.

We can almost hear the joyful shouts of the former slaves looking back toward the sea that has closed over the Egyptian army that had been in hot pursuit of Israel. Game over!“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . . ” (Exodus 15:1) Miriam sang it over and over (see Exodus 15:21). It’s never about our victories; it’s about God’s victory for us.

Romans 8:37says, “. . . we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” We are super conquerors. God doesn’t just win, He crushes the enemy. That’s why you don’t want to get in that battle yourself. This is why the battle that took place at the cross was entirely out of our hands. Jesus took on our debts, our sins, and our condition and defeated the eternal hold any of those things had on us. Through Him we are freely given a place in the conquering band that will celebrate victory forever! Allow yourself to live today in the glow of the victory that Jesus won for you. —James MacDonald

Journal

· How does the concept of victory fit into the way I think about my life in Christ?

· Where do I need to experience some victory today?