June 22 - 1 John 4:4-6. Overcomer.

June 22 - 1 John 4:4-6. Overcomer.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

If you take a look at Revelation 2 – 3 and read John’s words to the seven churches, you will see that he points to the overcomer in each individual letter.

In Ephesus, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7b)

In Smyrna, “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” (Rev. 2:11b)

In Pergamum, “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” (Rev. 2:17b)

In Thyatira, “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations … just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.” (Rev. 2:28)

In Sardis, “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Rev. 3:5)

In Philadelphia, “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and I will also write on him my new name.” (Rev. 3:12)

In Laodicea, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev. 3:21)

When we read these chapters in Revelation, it might seem as if it is nearly impossible to overcome all that happens to us in the world.  We are so overwhelmed by temptation. Sin surrounds us and we mess up more often than any of us care to admit.

John tells us here, though, that we overcome … not on our own strength.  But, the one who is in us … Jesus Christ … is greater than the one who is in the world.

This is not our battle. All we have to do is surrender to Jesus and allow Him to fight every battle.  It doesn’t seem that difficult, does it?