God ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPH in CHRIST!
November 25
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians Chapters 1-3
God ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPH in CHRIST!
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we
are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among
those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death,
and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." (2 Cor. 2:14-16)
Calvary was
the mighty display of the victory that Christ had won for humankind. In the
above passage, Apostle Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God's
victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about,
through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example
of His power at once to subdue and to save.
In the above
passage, Paul borrows a figure from the triumphal processions of Roman
conquerors. Returning home after glorious victories, they would lead their
captives along the streets of the capital. So Paul pictures the Lord Jesus marching
as a conqueror from Troas to Macedonia, and leading His apostle in His train. Wherever the Lord goes, through His
servants, there is victory! We have five
promises from God about how He gives us victory:
- God gives us victory over the evil influences of people (Psalms 44:5)
- God gives us victory over the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19)
- God gives us victory over severe afflictions (Romans 8:35)
- God gives us victory over worldly attractions (1 John 5:4)
- God will give us victory over Satan ultimately (Rev. 15:2)
We must
grasp Paul’s perspective on the unfailing success of God’s work in the world
today, and of those of us who participate in it. We must see our lives in the
light of God’s word and avoid discouragement because of the apparent failure of many of our
activities. Christ has conquered, and we
are privileged to march in His triumphal procession! Let us give our
heartfelt thanks to God who always
lead us in triumph in Christ!
"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
